Kent Reporter, December 20, 2013

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INSIDE | Day center for women, children opens [2]

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Sports | Kentridge girls look to deliver solid season [12]

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2013

Jury convicts Lizarraga of murder

Jessica Berliner, King County senior deputy prosecutor, tells the jury why they should convict Jorge Lizarraga for the 2010 murder of Devin Topps, whose photo stands behind her. STEVE HUNTER,

BY STEVE HUNTER shunter@kentreporter.com

A King County Superior Court jury took just one day to convict Jorge Lizarraga of the murder of Devin Topps, 18, in October 2010 in Kent. The 12 jurors started deliberations at 9 a.m. Tuesday and reached a verdict late in the afternoon. All 12 had to agree on the verdict. The jury convicted Lizarraga, 23, of second-

Kent Reporter

degree murder with a firearm enhancement as well as two counts of violation of the uniform firearms act (for being a convicted felon in possession of firearms), residential burglary, theft of a firearm and possession of a stolen firearm, according to Dan Donohoe, spokesman for the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office. Lizarraga is scheduled to be sentenced [ more LIZARRAGA page 5 ]

Jury to decide whether Phillip killed Frankel BY STEVE HUNTER shunter@kentreporter.com

A King County Superior Court jury began deliberations Tuesday afternoon in Kent about whether William L. Phillip Jr., stabbed to death Seth Frankel on May 21, 2010 in Frankel’s Auburn home he shared with Bonny Johnson, a woman each man loved. Family and friends of Frankel, 41, a city of Kent employee, were in court Tuesday morning to hear closing arguments in front

Edward Lee Vargas has served as superintendent of the Kent School District since 2009. Under his watch, the district has received numerous local, state, national and international awards. ROSS COYLE, Kent Reporter

THE MAN WITH THE PLAN Kent schools continue to change, thrive behind Vargas’ leadership

BY ROSS COYLE rcoyle@kentreporter.com

Edward Lee Vargas displays all the qualities one might expect of the superintendent of one of the most diverse and complex school districts in the state. A calm, collected and soft spoken man whose reserved mannerisms belie an unquestionable authority and control.

The veteran administrator arrived in Kent in 2009 and has rapidly changed the school district in his four years of service. The Washington Association of School Administrators recently awarded Vargas as Superintendent of the Year, but it’s not the first time he’s been honored for his work on the state level. He also received the same award [ more VARGAS page 4 ]

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County Council picks Gregerson over Albertson for Legislature sion in a Tuesday email to the Kent Reporter. She called The Metropolithe decision a “fix” tan King County and that the council Council surprised was “pressured to many when they appoint a person of chose Mia Grecolor.” gerson rather than Albertson Albertson, whose Elizabeth Albertson Kent City Council on Monday to fill term expires the end of this the 33rd Legislative District year, was picked by the 33rd House seat vacated by Dave Legislative District DemoUpthegrove. crats to replace Upthegrove, Albertson, of Kent, [ more ALBERTSON page 4 ] reacted strongly to the deciBY STEVE HUNTER

shunter@kentreporter.com

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of the jury by Senior Deputy Prosecutor Wyman Yip and defense attorney Anuradha Luthra. The trial lasted six weeks. Yip portrayed Phillip, 33, of Portland, Ore., as a man who wanted to return to a romantic relationship with Johnson and went so far as to kill Frankel in an effort to get back together with her. Yip said the evidence of a towel found near the murder scene with the DNA of Phillips, cellphone records

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