No death penalty in Sandpoint killing

SANDPOINT – Authorities will not seek the death penalty against two Sandpoint men charged in a fatal shooting last month.

Bonner County Prosecutor Phil Robinson said Friday he wouldn’t seek death after the court-appointed lawyers for the two suspects tried to withdraw from the case, saying they lacked proper qualifications to defend a case where the death penalty was a possible outcome.

To secure the death penalty, the state would have had to prove beyond a reasonable doubt at least one aggravating factor – such as that the murder was especially heinous and cruel.

Robinson’s decision prevented the defendants’ attorneys from removing themselves from the case.

Kenneth Eugene Thurlow, 45, and Christopher Alan Lewers, 22, are charged with first-degree murder in the killing of Christopher Elliott West, 25. West was shot in the head with a 12-gauge shotgun late Aug. 20 or in the early morning hours of Aug. 21. Thurlow is accused of pulling the trigger and Lewers is accused of aiding and abetting in the murder.

Thurlow and Lewers are being held without bail at the Bonner County Jail. Authorities hope to determine at a preliminary hearing Monday whether the two will be tried on charges of first-degree murder.

Sandpoint attorneys Savi Grewal and Ken Stone have been representing Thurlow, and attorneys Jeremy Featherston and Serra Woods have been defending Lewers. Stone, Featherston and Woods appeared in court Friday to pursue the withdrawal request. Although the death penalty will not be sought, the attorneys who appeared in court questioned whether they still met the state’s qualifications in a capital case.

Judge Justin Julian told the attorneys they could adequately defend Thurlow and Lewers. The two could be imprisoned for the rest of their lives if convicted of murder.