Man accused of shooting woman in head goes on trial

YAKIMA — After nearly five years and several delays, a man accused of shooting his girlfriend in the head is now standing trial for attempted murder.

Investigators have linked Michael John Braae, 46, to the deaths or disappearances of several women in the Pacific Northwest since his arrest in 2001.

The trial that began in Yakima County Superior Court on Friday focuses on the shooting of Michelle Morgan, who was left for dead on a country road south of Union Gap in July 2001.

Jurors will not hear from Morgan, who was ruled incompetent to testify because of a brain injury from the shooting that has affected her memory and speech.

An employee at a local asphalt company found her on the side of a road on July 14, 2001.

Her head was bathed in blood, and she was barely alive.

Days later, police spotted Braae in Idaho.

He was caught after a high-speed chase along Interstate 84 and an unsuccessful leap for freedom off a 40-foot bridge into the Snake River.

Braae was sentenced to 9 1/2 years in prison for the escape attempt.

Forensic investigators found two spots of Morgan’s blood in Braae’s pickup, as well as a newspaper that had a story identifying Braae as a suspect in Morgan’s shooting.

His trial is expected to last about a week.

Testimony is set to resume on Thursday.