Accused killer Michele Anderson lashes out in court as she is set to take the stand
SEATTLE -- An accused killer lashed out at her attorneys Tuesday morning in court. The dramatic moments came in the trial of Michele Anderson, accused of murdering six members of her family.
All of it happened as Anderson was about to take the stand in her own defense.
“I would like to testify and have an opportunity to defend myself,” said Anderson in court.
Anderson wanted to take the stand in her murder trial, but the judge soon learned her plan wasn’t to defend herself against six murder charges -- she wanted the jury to hear her complaints about her attorneys.
“I want new attorneys and I want to be represented fairly,” said Anderson.
King County Superior Court Judge Jeffrey Ramsdell responded, “That’s not my question."
Anderson replied, “It’s illegal to have me testify without effective assistance of counsel.”
The jury wasn’t in the courtroom during Anderson’s outburst.
Her attorneys told the judge she has refused to communicate with them for several years and they are worried about her testifying because they don’t know what she’ll say.
“Because of attorney, client communication breakdown, the utter lack of attorney, client relationship, we cannot effectively advise her with respect to this decision,” said David Sorenson, Anderson’s defense attorney.
Anderson’s attorneys tried to calm her down and get her back on track, but it didn’t work.
Anderson is charged with six counts of aggravated murder in the 2007 shooting deaths of six members of her family, which included her parents, brother and a young niece and nephew, in their Carnation home on Christmas Eve.
The defense case was set to begin on Tuesday with Anderson’s testimony.
In court, Judge Ramsdell appeared agitated, asking Anderson the same question; “Ma’am my question is this: Do you wish to testify or not?”
“I’m going to tell you in front of the jury that I did not have effective assistance of counsel so my rights are being violated. It has to be on court record so I can have it appealed,” responded Anderson.
In the end, Anderson chose not to take the stand and the defense chose to rest its case without calling a single witness.
The jury is set to hear closing arguments on Wednesday.
Anderson’s former boyfriend, Joseph McEnroe, is serving six life terms after a jury convicted him of the same crimes last year.