Sentencing for convicted murderer Jeremy Christian delayed

PORTLAND — The sentencing for a man convicted of killing two men and injuring a third on a light rail train in Portland in 2017 was delayed Tuesday when Jeremy Christian told a survivor he regretted not killing her.

His hearing will continue Wednesday to give more time to the victims and their families to make statements before Multnomah County Circuit Judge Cheryl Albrecht hands down Christian’s prison sentence, The Oregonian/OregonLive reported.

Deputies swiftly escorted Christian out of the courtroom Tuesday at the judge’s orders after his outburst at a Black woman who suffered a serious eye injury after Christian struck her with a half-filled Gatorade bottle. She described him as a white supremacist and a plague on society.

“And when you die and go to hell, I hope you rot,” said Demetria Hester.

Christian responded: “See you there.” He called her a liar and exclaimed, “I should have killed you!”

Christian was found guilty earlier this year on 12 counts, including those murders and attempted murder, as well as assault and intimidation. At a minimum, Christian faces at least life in prison with the possibility of parole after 30 years.

After hearing arguments from defense attorneys and prosecutors earlier in the day, the judge said she believes Oregon law allows her to sentence Christian to a maximum of life in prison with no chance of ever getting out for the first-degree murders of Taliesin Namkai-Meche, 23, and Ricky Best, 53.