Both the prosecution and defense said Thursday that they are ready to go forward with triple-homicide suspect Brent Luyster’s aggravated murder trial Monday morning.
The attorneys will address any pretrial motions and begin jury selection at that time.
The trial in Clark County Superior Court is expected to last about a month.
Prosecutors are seeking a life sentence for Luyster, 37, who is accused of fatally shooting Joseph Mark Lamar, 38, Zachary David Thompson, 36, and Janell Renee Knight, 43, and wounding Breanne L.A. Leigh, then 32, on July 15, 2016, at a Woodland home.
He is charged with three counts of aggravated first-degree murder, one count of attempted first-degree murder and first- and second-degree unlawful possession of a firearm. Aggravated murder is the only charge in Washington that carries the possibility of capital punishment, but the Clark County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office previously announced it would not seek the death penalty.
The specific location of Luyster’s trial has not yet been disclosed. Up until now, the majority of Luyster’s hearings have been heard in the courtroom of Judge Robert Lewis, who is presiding over the case.
Lamar’s mother, Danette Anderson, tearfully told media after Thursday’s hearing that she’s disappointed prosecutors aren’t pursuing capital punishment. She said that no matter the outcome, her family loses because Luyster will “flourish” in prison.
“(My son) deserves justice, and justice is capital punishment,” she said, later adding, “My son was a good man, a gentle man, an honest man.”
Still, she said she hopes to find some peace once Luyster’s trial is over, because she “won’t have to see his face anymore.”
Lamar’s sister, Abia Nunn, said she’s disgusted with the way the case has unfolded and described it as being odd.
And Thompson’s aunt, Tess Strickland, said she’s looking forward to the case being over and said she hopes that Luyster “gets what’s coming to him.”
She said she wants the family to be able to “pick up the pieces and move on.”
