Participants stand as potential jurors arrive in Lewis County Superior Court. Left to right: Sheriff's detective Bruce Kimsey, deputy prosecutors Shane O'Rourke and Colin Hayes, defense attorney Don Blair and defendant Ronald Brady.
By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter
CHEHALIS – Lawyers spent half a day yesterday questioning potential jurors to hear the first-degree murder trial of Onalaska resident Ronald A. Brady.
Brady, 60, is charged in the April 2010 shooting death of 56-year-old Thomas McKenzie of Morton and first-degree assault for allegedly firing at McKenzie’s estranged wife Joanna McKenzie as she fled his property on the 2100 block of state Route 508.
He told sheriff’s detectives he was staying overnight at his unoccupied house in case burglars from earlier in the day returned.
Some 70 prospective jurors were whittled down to six women, six men and two alternates by 5 p.m. yesterday.
Lewis County Superior Court Judge Nelson Hunt is hearing the case.
The attorneys are scheduled to begin with their opening statements at 9:30 a.m. today.
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Tags: By Sharyn L. Decker, news reporter
This is a case of a Lewis County DA trying to make himself a name at the expense of a law abiding homeowner. Hell, why have laws if we’re going to grant criminals free reins and punish law abiding citizens?
That’s the problem with our legal system – LIBERAL Judges and DAs. I bet if the thiefs robbed the DA’s house they would have received more than 11 days in jail and the DA wouldn’t have been punished at all?
Lewis County, WA is a joke and an embarrassment to our legal system.
Who doesn’t believe that a homeowner has a legal right to defend his property.
Law abiding citizens MUST play by the rules while the criminals run around breaking laws, endangering themselves and others. *Please note my sarcasm!!
I wonder if John McKenzie and VHamilton lock the doors to their homes and vehicles. If they do, aren’t they showing they value their belongings and property as well? How about abiding by the law of…if it doesn’t belong to you, leave it alone? OR should we just start handing our belongings over to any scum who trespasses on our property?
And REALLY John & VHamilton…Mr. Brady is responsible for his actions, Joanna is responsible for her actions, but Tom should have been excused from his multiple bad choices leading to that nights events, due to Joanna’s bad influence????? Really??? Oh come on, get real!!
Wow another fucked up case.
Is justice served?
I have a son that DID not kill anyone, an he is being charged with Murder on a child who was abuse 3 years before even meeting these people.
This guy busted his ASS for her an HIS G_MA that screwed him!!!!! the PROSECUTOR 1CRIMINAL WITNESS( Assessor RIGHT?) an 1 cop. Got him in the paper hung an they have told him (his own lawyer) to tell tell the truth an it would be easier on him. Help do we fire the ATTORNEY?? We have told him the truth 100 times….Find some one who believes in him beside me an like some have said you go for help an get SCREWED EVERY TIME…….I am so sorry for all this going on everywhere… Maybe this will help you think about something else for awhile
This fine line is gonna be broken cause they have really screwed up. I will spend the rest of my life getting him a fair trial…out of this town
Well, unlike some people, I have not judged this case, nor have I been selected to be on the jury in this case. I am only going with what is presented…
A thief comes back to the scene of the crime to steal more… and he winds up getting shot and killed in the process. His accomplice is charged, convicted, and sentenced for her role in the theft. The person who defended his property is being charged with murder in the defense of his property. What is missing here?
There MUST be something missing if the Sheriff says it was self defense, yet the District Attorney still prosecutes the case as a murder. There must be some piece of evidence that the DA isn’t letting us in on….
So we’ll just have to see, won’t we?
NOW YOUR TALKING JOHN.
Thier is a fine line in defending your property inside your home, and only inside your home. The Law, I dont believe states anything about murdering someone that is on your property. (without a weapon, or with one) Self defense? hmmm! Fine Line.
The Law abiding thing to do is to call the Law. Although when you do that, they will call your name in first and check you out for warrents. Innocent People/Criminals another very, very, very FINE LINE.
the law states what would the average person do inthat situation.What if that person outside his house was an innocent person, brokedown, looking for phone or help. Maybe he could have called 911 before taking someones life over a personal belonging.Mansfield needs to go , he calls Bradys action self defense, thats not right
Yet, he was defending his property…. you’re calling that a crime now, John McKenzie? Does that mean that if I catch someone trying to steal from MY property that I’m not allowed to defend it? The property owner premeditated to protect his belongings, and his intent was to protect his home… And yet he is still on trial?
I stick with my original statement here… there is something that we aren’t being told, since it is NOT a crime to defend your home and property from theft. Yet, they are still trying the man for doing just that. I look forward to reading about the outcome of the trial, and what all was said.
Also, John McKenzie, you are calling for Joanna to be removed from society, locked up with the key thrown away… but she has already been tried, convicted, and sentenced for her actions in this case… She didn’t get near enough time to make it a true punishment (11 days isn’t enough…), but that is the fault of the courts.
Goerge its called premedatation and intent =1st degree murder Tom had no trial . you seem to be a Mr. Now it all,
lewis county courts need to remove joeanna from society Protect our citizens and property Lock her up and threw the key away. She is the criminal.
I’m still thinking that there is more to the story that we aren’t being told here, since he WAS defending his property against criminals… yet he is being charged with… defending his property against criminals……
im hoping justice will be served in this case RIP tom