Beating death draws 8-year term

EVERETT – One of three men charged following a fatal beating here has been sentenced to eight years in prison for manslaughter.

Erik Edward Shreffner was convicted in May after jurors could not agree unanimously to convict him of the more serious charge of second-degree murder in the death of Russell Walden, 42.

The case stems from a pair of drunken fights in downtown Everett on Aug. 25. Testimony at trial indicated that Walden encountered Shreffner and some of his friends several times as they were walking from a bar several blocks south.

Shreffner repeatedly accused Walden of withholding the name of someone who had attacked Shreffner in an earlier fight. The fatal brawl occurred seconds after a police officer broke up a heated argument between the two men.

Witnesses testified that Shreffner repeatedly stomped on Walden’s head. Walden died six days later of head injuries.

Two others charged in the case are scheduled for trials in September.

Michael Edward Kyzar, 33, of Snohomish, has been charged with murder for his alleged role in the beating.

Leonard Cory Decker, 36, of Marysville, is charged with rendering criminal assistance for allegedly lying to police.