Washington resident Eric Christensen has been convicted of first-degree murder in the death of former girlfriend Sherry Harlan. Both Christensen and Harlan were involved in the local Everett, Washington Pagan community, and prosecution argued that a “Wiccan” blood-oath between the two pointed towards premeditation, which necessitated a first-degree, rather than second-degree, murder conviction.
Eric Christensen
“A man accused of killing his girlfriend and dismembering her body after she broke what he called a “blood oath” was found guilty this afternoon of first-degree murder. Eric Christensen, 40, cackled as he was led out of the courtroom in shackles. He continued to laugh as jail guards began transporting him back to jail. Christensen faces more than 45 years in prison for the death of Sherry Harlan. Jurors deliberated for about three hours after a two-week trial that included graphic photographs and grisly details. Superior Court Judge Thomas Wynne told attorneys that he planned to tell jurors that counseling will be available if they feel that they have been traumatized by what they saw and heard in court. As lawyers gave their closing arguments today it was clear that only the degree of Christensen’s guilt was in question.”
Sentencing for Christensen will happen on June 18th, where he could face more than 45 years in prison.
While I’m certainly glad this monster is going to jail for a long, long, time, I’m concerned with the way the prosecution argued for premeditation. By making the oath, and Christensen’s religious beliefs, a framework for premeditation in this case, you potentially open a Pandora’s box of legal questions. Questions that could jeopardize the initial conviction on appeal, and paint modern Paganism as spur for Christensen’s behavior. One local media outlet has already intimated that prosecutors believe modern Witchcraft “drove” Christensen towards the murder, while another calls it “witchcraft-fueled”. Further, from looking at the coverage of the case, there is no indication that any input or testimony from experts or clergy within modern Paganism were used by either side to explore whether Christensen’s beliefs were consistent with modern religious Witchcraft.
Let’s hope Sherry Harlan’s spirit will be at peace now that some semblance of justice has been served, that her family can find some closure, and that Christensen’s barbaric, brutal, and inhuman act will not come to haunt the Pagans in Everett dealing with the aftermath of this tragedy in their community.
UPDATE: Snohomish County deputy prosecutor Craig Matheson says that this murder was not a “Wiccan killing”.
“Matheson emphasized that Christensen’s actions were not in keeping with the Wiccan faith. He surmised that those who belong to the Index church where Christensen attended services were just as horrified by what Christensen did as jurors were. “This is not a Wiccan killing,” Matheson said.”
Will the media and public listen?
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