Tag: murder

Reader questions sentencing recommendation

Geeky Swedes 26 Comments

MyBallard reader Marc wondered how the King County Prosecutor’s Office had come to the decision to ask the judge for a 23-year sentence for 17-year-old Elijah Hall, the teen who pleaded guilt of murdering Manish Melwani at the Quick Stop market on July 26, 2009, so he sent an email with these questions.

(1) Why, on the Offender Scoring Sheet, were there no scores marked under Mr. Hall’s Juvenile History? I see that on his Criminal History he indeed has two felony counts against him.
(2) Why was there no adjustment (weapons enhancement) sought for this crime pursuant to RCW 9.94.A.533(3)(a)?

Marc says, “I’m by no means a lawyer, but the press has been lax on providing information on the decision making process as to why the prosecutor’s office is suggesting 280 months, where it would seem like a range of 286-379 would appear to the layman to have been more appropriate, i.e., offender score of 4 + the weapons enhancement.”

Ian Goodhew from the Prosecutor’s office sent this response:

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