The arraignment and mental competency hearing for 31-year-old Christopher Leahy (initially scheduled June 25, 8:30am) has been delayed to next week according to Douglas Wagoner at the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office.
Wagoner said Leahy’s competency expert had requested more time to complete her evaluation of the suspect, and that the new hearing will be held on Monday, June 29 at 1:15pm.
Juniper Blessing tribute
Yesterday (June 24) on the US House of Representatives congressional floor, both Rep. Pramila Jayapal (WA-7) and Rep. Teresa Leger Fernández (NM-3) gave speeches dedicated to the memory of 19-year-old Transgender woman and UW student Juniper Blessing.
Rep. Leger Fernández talked about Blessing’s life and interest in meteorology and atmospheric science growing up with the thunder, lightning, and rainbows of Sante Fe.
“She looked at the world with wonder and questions” she said. Rep. Leger Fernández also touched on Blessing’s passion for singing and music.
“But for many, Juniper will always be remembered for her voice.”
Rep. Jayapal started her speech with “I am so proud that Juniper Blessing was a constituent of mine.”
She said that “at just 19-years-old, she had already made her mark, and the tragedy of her murder leaves an incredible sense of pain in our community.”
She went on to assure both Rep. Leger Fernández and her commitment to Blessing and her community.
“Here on the House floor, we send our thoughts, our prayers, and our commitment to her family, friends, and our entire community that we will continue to honor Juniper’s incredible life, spirit, and light.”
Family statement
The family of Blessing also issued a statement in response to the Leahy hearing and congressional speeches. They said that the congresswomen “read beautiful tributes to our child and sibling Juniper Blessing, who was murdered in a horrific act of violence on Mother’s Day, May 10. Their statements, and so many more like them over the six weeks since Juniper’s passing, lead us to wonder what Juniper might have accomplished, and the many ways in which the world would have been positively impacted, had she been able to have the full and meaningful life to which she was entitled.”
The family then said that, “our focus today remains on Juniper, on her legacy, and on justice for anyone responsible for her horrible death. We remain grateful to the Seattle Police Department, the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office, and our Victim Advocate for their help and support, and to all those in Seattle, Santa Fe, and elsewhere who have embraced Juniper and our family in this time.”
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