A man accused of murdering a Salem mother and her toddler son is fighting for the dismissal of an aggravated murder charge — a change that would make him no longer eligible for the death penalty.
On Friday in Yamhill County Circuit Court, attorneys for Michael John Wolfe, 52, argued for dismissing the aggravated murder charge Wolfe faces for allegedly murdering 3-year-old William "Billy" Fretwell, his biological son.
One of the two aggravated murder charges Wolfe initially faced after Karissa Fretwell, 25, and Billy went missing in May was already reduced after a new law drastically narrowing the use of the death penalty went into effect in September.
Michael Wolfe, 52, appears in court as his attorneys argue for dismissing an aggravated murder charge he faces for allegedly murdering 3-year-old William "Billy" Fretwell, his biological son.
Previously, about 20 circumstances made a homicide qualify as aggravated murder, including murder for hire, murdering multiple people, torturing before killing, the murder of a child and murder during the course of a felony crime.
With Senate Bill 1013, Oregon legislators voted to limit these aggravating circumstances to only four:
- Terrorist killings of two or more people
- The premeditated murder of police officers
- Murder committed in a prison or jail by someone who was already convicted of murder
- The premeditated murder of a child under the age of 14
But the aggravated murder charge for Billy's death remained in place following the amended indictment in October.
Much more at link: https://www.statesmanjournal.com/st...ly-fights-threat-of-death-penalty/2737327001/
