Mistrial declared in 2021 Renton homicide trial

The trial for a man accused of fatally shooting his girlfriend in 2021 in Renton was declared a mistrial following jury misconduct.

On Aug. 8, after about a week of deliberations, Judge Mark Larrañaga declared a mistrial in the trial for Vaughn Weems, 42, who has been accused of second-degree domestic violence murder with a firearm for killing his girlfriend, Montisha Offord.

Although Weems’ charge was designated as a domestic violence murder because the killing occurred between intimate partners, court documents state that Larrañaga ruled that the words “domestic violence” were not allowed to be used by officers who testified in trial. Weems’ attorney, Emily Gause, argued to the court that the word “domestic violence” should not be used because there was no evidence that Weems and Offord were in a domestic violence relationship, and its use would be inflammatory and misleading. Documents state that when someone is charged with a crime, it can initially be designated as a domestic violence crime if it involves intimate partners, but proof of a domestic violence relationship is not required.

Weems is accused of fatally shooting Offord in the parking lot of the Echo Mountain Apartments, 2223 Benson Road South, on Aug. 21, 2021, following an argument where Weems alleges he acted in self-defense.

According to charging documents, at about 2:19 a.m. the day of Offord’s death, Weems and Offord had been arguing at the Cheers Bar and Grill. Documents state that they eventually parted ways, but then Weems drove to the Echo Mountain Apartments parking lot, where they continued to argue.

Documents state that after Offord said that she would pepper-spray Weems, she pulled out a pepper-spray canister, and Weems shot her once before driving away from the scene. Two friends who were with Offord then drove her to Valley Medical Center, where she died about an hour after suffering a gunshot wound to her chest.

According to a press release from Weems’ attorney, Gause, a motion for a mistrial from the defense was granted after it was revealed that jurors had engaged in prohibited outside research during deliberations. Gause said protecting the integrity of the process and Weems’ right to a fair trial must remain paramount, and she appreciates the court’s careful consideration of the issue. According to Gause, she will continue to defend Weems in any future proceedings and is confident in the case she has built and the truth she presented.

“In speaking with jurors after the ruling, we learned that a clear majority were already voting ‘not guilty,’ with several others indicating they expected the deliberations could lead to an acquittal,” Gause said. “The defense is encouraged by this strong support for our case and the thoughtful engagement shown by the jury.”

A re-trial date has been scheduled for Oct. 6.

Opening statements of the trial

King County prosecutor Carly Bradley said the day of Offord’s death, after arguing with Weems on a car ride home from the bar, Weems kicked her out at a gas station. Bradley said Offord then called a friend, who brought her home to the Echo Mountain Apartments.

Bradley said it was there that Weems arrived in his vehicle and began to argue with Offord again. Weems then got out of the car, Offord took steps away from him before she said she would pepper-spray him, and Weems shot Offord before he fled in his vehicle, Bradley said.

Bradley said that when Weems shot Offord, the only threat she posed was pepper spray and a bruised ego. She said that witnesses to the event will tell the jury they clearly saw that Offord was holding pepper spray, Weems pushed Offord before he shot her, Offord was shot from a distance, not close up, and that Weems was not scared of Offord, but that he killed her because he was angry.

“By the end of this trial, once you’ve heard all the testimony and seen all the evidence, you will know that Mr. Weems was not in any danger from that lipstick-sized piece of metal,” Bradley said. “You’ll see that Mr. Weems was not actually in fear of great personal injury or death. He was just angry that this woman wouldn’t shut up. And the state is confident you will find Vaughn Weems guilty of murdering his intimate partner with a firearm.”

Defense statements

Citing as evidence of Weems’ innocence, Gause said that Offord was angry and aggressive toward Weems before he shot her. Additionally, Gause said that Weems believed the pepper spray Offord had was a gun because she had been known to carry weapons, including guns, and he had to make a split-second decision when he shot her.

Gause told the jury that the prosecution has to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that Weems did not act in self-defense. Gause said that Weems did not want to argue with Offord, he just wanted to get away from her, and when he shot her, it was in a moment of fear when words turned to threats and threats felt like life or death.

Gause said when Weems was driving Offord home from the bar after their argument, but during the ride, Offord became aggressive, yelled, poked and hit Weems, so he asked her to get out of his car. She said after this, Offord texted Weems angrily.

Gause said that when Weems went to the apartment complex where Offord was, he was with a friend in the car, laughing, and he did not know Offord was going to arrive and be angry. She said that Offord then yelled at Weems, telling her that she had people who would protect her.

“The evidence will show you that this is not murder. It was not retaliation, it was survival,” Gause said. “Vaughn didn’t want to fight, he just wanted to get away. Vaughn acted in self-defense. Because of that, Vaughn is not guilty.”