Homicide suspect Christopher D. Strawn lost a bid to postpone his new trial, currently set for Oct. 2.
Strawn’s first trial, on charges of first- and second-degree murder, manslaughter, criminally negligent homicide, third-degree assault and weapons misconduct in the 2015 shooting death of Brandon Cook, ended in a mistrial in February.
[Judge declares mistrial in trailer park killing]
Strawn, 33, has opted to represent himself and dismiss his court-appointed attorney, Eve Soutiere.
At a status hearing in Juneau Superior Court Tuesday, Strawn asked for a continuance and complained of the inadequacy of the law library inside Lemon Creek Correctional Center.
But Assistant District Attorney Amy Paige noted that she already had opposed any further delay, telling Judge Philip Pallenberg that “Strawn made a choice” to represent himself and pointing out that he already has had considerable time to study the evidence.
Pallenberg denied Strawn’s request; a trial call remains set for Sept. 22.
Strawn is accused of shooting Cook “execution style” on Oct. 20, 2015, as he helped friend Tiffany Marie Albertson paint the kitchen in her trailer in Kodzoff Acres Mobile Home Park on Mendenhall Loop Road. Police found Cook dead on the kitchen floor with a gunshot wound to the back of his neck and head.
Defendant in assault pleads guilty
A Juneau man facing 11 felony assault charges has pleaded guilty to one count of second-degree assault.
Lorenzo Lopez, 25, was arrested by the Juneau Police Department on Dec. 11, 2016 after an assault in which he reportedly caused injuries to a woman that included a broken jaw, extensive bruising and multiple lacerations.
In Juneau Superior Court Thursday, Lopez took a plea agreement that including admitting a sentencing aggravator that will net him four years in prison, with two and a half years suspended. Judge Philip Pallenberg noted that second-degree assault carries a 10-year maximum prison term.
A pre-sentence report was ordered and Lopez’s sentencing was set for Oct. 19.
• Contact reporter Liz Kellar at 523-2246 or liz.kellar@juneauempire.com.
