News-Times Whidbey

ISLAND LIVING Garden Tour offers a peek at paradise.

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 19, 2013 | Vol. 114, No. 49 | www.whidbeynewstimes.com | 75¢

Lambert to wear restraints at trial By JESSIE STENSLAND Staff reporter

Jessie Stensland/Whidbey News-Times

Accused killer Joshua Lambert appears in court June 13 to discuss trial security.

Island County Superior Court Judge Vickie Churchill ruled Thursday that accused killer Joshua Lambert is unpredictable and a threat to others. Churchill ordered security measures even beyond what was recommended by the jail administrator. Lambert, 31, is accused of killing both of his 80-year-old grandfathers and kidnapping his great aunt. The alleged crimes occurred at two North Whidbey homes on Oct. 3, 2011. Lambert argues that he’s not guilty by reason of insanity and is acting as his own attorney, which complicates security for the trial. Normally, lawyers are able to approach witnesses, the prosecution, the judge and jury during a trial.

On one hand, the judge is obligated to ensure Lambert has a fair trial. The state Supreme Court ruled that physical restraints on a defendant are inherently prejudicial to a jury, Prosecutor Greg Banks wrote in a motion for courtroom safety protocols. On the other hand, the high court acknowledges that physical restrains may be necessary in exceptional circumstances. Banks said restraints should only be used as a “last resort” and that every precaution should be taken to prevent the jury from seeing the restraints. De Dennis, the jail administrator, testified that Lambert poses a substantial threat to others at trial. He said Lambert wrote in court papers that the “voices” were telling him See TRIAL, A15

A rare glimpse of Camp Casey

Restraints should only be used as a last resort.

County to replace Recovery Services

Conference center throws open doors

Letter: ‘At this point, our confidence in is broken’

By JANIS REID Staff reporter

There’s something mysterious about the Colonel’s House. The three-story, colonial-style home with gothic elements sits at the highest elevation on Camp Casey with an expansive view of Puget Sound. Used exclusively by the president and vice president of Seattle Pacific University, the public was allowed a rare look into the 100-year-old home Friday at Camp Casey’s open house. Only the second open house organized by the conference center, visitors who don’t normally have access were allowed to wan-

Banks:

By JUSTIN BURNETT Staff reporter

making the space usable for the convention center. “I think what makes us unique is we turned it into a different sort of space that can be used in many ways,” Myers said. “People can come for the pool, they can come

The discussion is over. The Island County Board of Commissioners Monday directed Human Services Chief Jackie Henderson to begin the process of replacing the troubled Island County Recovery Services with a private chemical dependency agency. Henderson, who brazenly said last week she would refuse such an order, recanted that position. “I’m trying to compromise, I’m trying to move on,” Henderson said.

See camp casey, A15

See REcovery services, A13

Janis Reid/Whidbey News-Times

Stanwood resident Kaci Engstrom, 10, peers through a World War II era telescope inside the Colonel’s House at Camp Casey last Friday. der through several of the historic buildings and use the pool for free. “I feel like Willy Wonka,” said Robyn Myers, manager of conference services. “It’s a good chance to showcase to the community what we are doing.”

What they are doing started in 1956 when Seattle Pacific University purchased the more than 40 buildings that comprise Camp Casey. Since that time, the facility has been slowly remodeling each building aiming to maintain the historical integrity while

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