Man convicted in Portland train attacks must pay victims

PORTLAND — A judge on Wednesday ordered a man convicted of fatally stabbing two men who confronted him during a racist rant on a Portland, Oregon, light-rail train to pay $12,046 for expenses incurred by some of his victims.

The Oregonian/OregonLive reports that the judge ordered Jeremy Christian to pay the money in connection with the 2017 attacks. The payments include: $2,439 for Demetria Hester, who Christian injured by throwing a Gatorade bottle at her eye; $4,604 for Micah Fletcher, who survived after Christian stabbed him in the neck; and $5,000 for the family of Ricky Best, who died after Christian stabbed him in the neck.

The money already has been paid to Hester, Fletcher and Best’s family by the state’s crime victims compensation fund. The judge’s order means Christian is now responsible for paying back the fund.

Prosecutors didn’t request any additional money, including money for the family of Taliesin Namkai-Meche, who also died when Christian stabbed him in the neck.

Multnomah County Circuit Judge Cheryl Albrecht said although Christian is indigent, he must work out a plan with the Oregon Department of Corrections to reimburse the crime victims compensation fund over time.

In February, a jury found Christian guilty of two counts of first-degree murder, one count of attempted first-degree murder, second-degree assault and other charges stemming from his actions.

Christian was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.