Families to address court at Dec. hearing

By Ian Ith
Seattle Times staff reporter

E-mail this article Print this article Search archive

The sentence for Green River killer Gary L. Ridgway is not in doubt — a judge has no other option but to sentence him to life without hope of release.

But an entire day has been set aside Dec. 18 for the official proceedings in King County Superior Court in Seattle because it will be the first time the survivors of at least 48 slain women will have the chance to directly address the court — and likely Ridgway himself.

The hearing, which was expected up to six months from now, was moved up after prosecutors and defense attorneys huddled to discuss the matter and agreed on a time and place.

The hearing is set to begin at 8:30 a.m. in the same courtroom where Ridgway pleaded guilty Nov. 5 to 48 counts of aggravated murder.

Because prosecutors removed the death penalty in exchange for the pleas, the only other sentence the judge can impose is life. But the law says victims' families have a right to address the court.

Meanwhile, Ridgway is continuing to talk to investigators in hopes of closing even more cases, said Detective Kathleen Larson, the spokeswoman for the Green River Task Force. And even though his obligation to talk to detectives ends when he is officially sentenced, investigators believe he is willing to keep talking to them from prison, Larson said.

Ian Ith: 206-464-2109 or iith@seattletimes.com

Copyright © 2003 The Seattle Times Company