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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Man implicated in South Hill murder case wants new lawyer

From staff and wire reports
A North Dakota man who has been questioned about an alleged murder-for-hire scheme in Washington is asking for a new lawyer to represent him on illegal weapons charges. James Henrikson, of Watford City, is charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm. He is represented by a federal public defender who last week filed a motion to suppress evidence and essentially postpone the scheduled April 1 trial date. Attorney Neil Fulton alleged in court filings the weapons seized from a safe in Henrikson’s Watford City home were taken illegally because federal agents had to contact the manufacturer to open it. This voided the search warrant, Fulton said. In total, eight firearms were taken, none of which bore Henrikson’s fingerprints, according to court documents. Henrikson says the motion was made without his approval and he did not want to delay the trial, which was scheduled to begin last week. Authorities say Henrikson had business dealings in the oil patch with Doug Carlile, who was shot and killed by an intruder on Dec. 15 at his Spokane home. Timothy Suckow of Spokane Valley was arrested on suspicion of first-degree aggravated murder in the case, and his trial is also pending. A judge will rule on Henrikson’s request for a new lawyer at a hearing tentatively scheduled for later this month.