Christopher Leahy, 31, did not appear in court for his scheduled arraignment. His defense attorneys stood before the judge without him.
SEATTLE — The man charged with the murder of University of Washington student Juniper Blessing was ordered to undergo a mental competency evaluation, delaying his arraignment after his defense team raised concerns about his ability to assist in his own defense.
Christopher Leahy, 31, did not appear in King County Superior Court for his scheduled arraignment on Thursday, choosing instead to remain in his jail cell. His defense attorneys stood before the judge without him.
Leahy is accused of stabbing the 19-year-old more than 40 times in the laundry room of Nordheim Court, an off-campus student housing complex, on the evening of May 10. Seattle police say surveillance footage captured Leahy entering the same room where Blessing was doing laundry that night.
Rather than proceeding with an arraignment, the judge focused on concerns raised by Leahy’s defense team about their client’s mental fitness.
“Based on our observations, we don’t think he’s competent to move forward,” said defense attorney Laura Shaver.
The court ordered Leahy to Western State Hospital for 15 days of observation. Both parties were in agreement on the next steps.
“The parties agree that he should be sent down for observation to Western State and whatever additional treatment that they can provide him,” the prosecutor said.
The murder case will continue, but the competency question must be resolved before a plea can be entered. The next hearing is set for June 25.
The court proceedings come three-and-a-half weeks after the attack. The UW community continues to grieve.
“The loss was felt throughout the campus,” said UW student Nikki Taleghani.
The killing has also intensified concerns about safety at Nordheim Court, which is owned by UW and managed by a company called Greystar. One resident, who asked to remain anonymous, said the attack has drawn attention to overdue improvements at the complex.
“The laundry room in the back, the door wasn’t able to properly lock for a long time,” the resident said.
Students say they are watching closely to see how the university and its property manager respond.
“I think there has been a general kind of uptick in worry amongst students just for their own safety, their friend’s safety,” Taleghani said. “I hope they take this seriously and maybe security increases.”
A University of Washington spokesperson sent KING 5 a statement that says work is being done to address safety concerns. Prior to the stabbing, the Housing & Food Services department had convened a workgroup to evaluate building security and recommend actions. Those recommendations, according to the school, are being finalized so they can be implemented starting this summer.
Under consideration for changes and improvements are: door access, cameras, building security education, the campus safety responder program and initiating a CPTED (Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design) review by UWPD of on-campus housing buildings.
Greystar, according to the school, has been in communication with Nordheim Court residents about security concerns. The company is working with UW police on a review of the complex.
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