Murder sentence cut in half in 2005 case

A man whose murder conviction was overturned on appeal had his prison sentence cut from 25 years to 12 years this week.

Paul R. Livingston, 30, was accused of helping kill Kevin R. Boyle in 2005, though police believed one of his two accomplices actually pulled the trigger. He was accused of helping two women kill Boyle because they wanted him to move out of the Spokane home they shared but didn’t want to give back the rent money Boyle had paid.

Livingston was found guilty of first-degree murder by a jury and sentenced to 300 months in prison in early 2007. His case was one of many overturned by the Court of Appeals because the jurors were questioned in private, violating Livingston’s right to a public trial.

Deputy prosecuting attorney Jack Driscoll said Friday that he decided to offer Livingston the same plea deal that he was offered 10 years ago because Livingston was the least culpable of the three involved in the murder. It was a deal that Livingston declined at the time but decided to accept now.

“I thought that was the fair thing to do,” Driscoll said.

He was sentenced to 144 months in prison this week after he pleaded guilty to second-degree murder. Livingston will receive credit for the 10 years he already has served behind bars.