GUILTY WA - Jane Britt, 75, found strangled in her car, Federal Way, 19 March 2008

[Earthbound Misfit I]

FEDERAL WAY, Wash. -- Neighbors of a man accused of strangling a 75-year-old woman in Federal Way said he has a fierce temper and often erupted in rage outside his apartment.


Joseph Njonge, 24, is accused of killing Jane Britt, who police said met him at the Garden Terrace Nursing home where her husband is a resident.


David Hicks said he saw Njonge get angry at least twice.


"There was one incident where he pulled in with his girlfriend and they ran up on the curb over there and he just left his car there. (He) got out and left her in the passenger (seat) and he kind of walked off. And then there was another time … I happened to look out and saw him whip his cell phone at her," Hicks said.

More: http://www.kirotv.com/news/15856912/detail.html

 

[Mom&Gma]

It's been over a year and the trial has FINALLY begun! http://www.thenewstribune.com/topstories/story/767835.html

 

[Columbo]

As a friend of the family, I feel strongly they did not have anything to do with this. Also, coming from a Boeing family I can tell you that not all Boeing workers are "well-to-do". The family members I know are good stewards of their finances. Our prayers are with the family as they process this loss with grief and some anger. It is hurtful to see people speculating that the family could have been responsible, but I understand that a normal part of investigation is to look at those closest first.

Jane was still a beautiful, active, fit person. I would never have guessed her age as 75 if I had not known how old her children are! "Elderly" just doesn't fit this woman! She was caring and compassionate. She was also very gracious.

This may be just projecting my previous experiences with nursing homes, but if I were the police, I would be looking at all those connected with the facility... the staff and the other regular visitors there. Even a kind and gracious person who is also a caregiver can be a tiger when advocating for their loved one. They need to look at any complaints that may have been expressed by her or the family and look at any staff or other residents and their families that these complaints may have been directed towards.

It does not look like a random act. The car was not stolen, but left there at the facility. The person was careful not to be captured by any cameras. It could be someone who knew her routine and waited for her (perhaps on their day off?)

This could be so true--those facilities sometimes unwittingly hire criminals -- people you wouldn't want to be caring for your beloved relatives. This could be the case here, especially if she visited twice a day--the workers would know her well. And if one of them got a fixation on her, or she was reporting him/her for bad behavior......
Wow--I hadn't read up to the point where they caught the perp....sorry!!
....Maybe I should quit while I'm ahead...I didn't realize that this case was a year old (or more?)

 

[Columbo]

I can't believe that he could bail out (if he had the money). Shouldn't he be held w/o bail?

 

[Mom&Gma]

Hallelujah! We have a conviction!!! Too bad it was 2nd degree instead of 1st and not the death penalty or life without parole...
http://www.kirotv.com/news/19779202/detail.html

 

[SuziQ]

Hallelujah! We have a conviction!!! Too bad it was 2nd degree instead of 1st and not the death penalty or life without parole...
http://www.kirotv.com/news/19779202/detail.html

I am so happy there is a conviction, but I'm a bit confused how it was 2nd degree instead of first? The below statement is clear about premeditation.

http://www.kirotv.com/news/19779202/detail.html

King County Prosecutor Dan Satterberg said the Britt fought hard against her assailant "over a prolonged period of time" and was strangled by Njonge, who used a ligature and came at her from behind.

 

[yosande]

I gotta say, I don't understand how his dna was found under her fingernails if he came up to her from behind using a ligature.

But I can see his dna under her fingernails if she helped him with her husband that evening. Was he working that evening?
I hope they had his prints on the car, and/or the garage remote found in the woods, or the keys to the car.

I know they found her husband's cc in his wallet though. Did she use that cc? Was it an active cc? Had the perp used the cc?
Don't know how the jury could not have thought first degree with him coming up behind her to murder her. Wish I could see the court transcripts.
Just asking.
moo

 

[JoeFromLB]

Conviction overturned by state appellate court:

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2014941611_overturned03m.html

 

[MsFacetious]

On Monday, the court found Njonge had been denied his constitutional right to a public trial when King County Superior Court Judge Laura Middaugh closed the courtroom during a portion of jury selection because of limited space.

Attorney Phil Sayles, who represented Njonge, declined to talk about the appeals court's decision. Sayles did not object when Middaugh closed the courtroom.

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2014941611_overturned03m.html

You have GOT to be kidding me. :banghead:

 

[fran]

Of course this ruling is ridiculous and is going to cost the taxpayers moocho to retry these cases. I'm sure it's the def and his attorney who pray the da will not choose to retry or that a retrial will end up with a 'not guilty.'

In the end, it's just the judicial system making itself look stoooopid with technicalities.

The problem for this particular def, during his initial statements, he told LE there was no contact with the victim that day that would have resulted in his dna being under her fingernails. The second problem the def has is the victim's husbands cc being in the perps possession.

I don't see any problem with the perps dna being under the victim's fingernails if a ligature was used for the COD. The previous reports said the victim struggled long and hard against her assailant. She most likely made several contacts with the murderer.

This is all just noise and a waste of time. Guess it's just one of those little irritants that Lady Justice has to put up with to insure Americans are guaranteed their Constitutional Rights to a fair trial. ................you might say just part of the game.

JMHO
fran


PS....on a side-note: Wouldn't it be ironic if during his retrial, he was convicted of Murder 1 and given at least a life sentence rather than what he first received where he was due to get out in the future? .....Just wishful thinking, I guess. fran

 

[OkieGranny]

From September 2014:

http://www.thenewstribune.com/news/local/crime/article25883749.html

A Federal Way man’s right to a public trial was not violated when a judge limited public access during a portion of jury selection for the 2009 murder trial, the Washington State Supreme Court said in an opinion released Thursday.

The high court’s decision reinstates the second-degree murder conviction of Joseph Njonge but allows him to appeal on other grounds if he has them...

Njonge was sentenced to 16 years in prison.