Forensic experts testify in Savoie trial

EPHRATA ‹ Prosecutors in Evan Savoie's first-degree murder trial called forensic scientists before the jury Tuesday, hoping their expert testimony could link Savoie to a knife allegedly used to kill 13-year-old Craig Sorger and clothes stained by his blood.

Savoie, 15, of Ephrata, is accused of killing Sorger at Ephrata's Oasis Park on Feb. 15, 2003. He pleaded not guilty, but faces 20 to 26 years in prison if convicted.

Savoie and his former co-defendant Jake Eakin, both only 12 years old when the killing occurred, are the youngest juveniles in modern state history charged as adults for murder.

In April 2005, Eakin, now 15, pleaded guilty to complicity to second-degree murder for his role in Sorger's slaying. Eakin testified Friday, finishing the first week of Savoie's trial in Grant County Superior Court, saying Savoie killed Sorger after claiming he wanted to go on a "killing spree."

Prior to attacking Sorger, Eakin said Savoie was tossing a knife into the air, but he did not see Savoie holding a knife as he attacked Sorger. He then said he watched as Savoie threw something into a nearby pond afterward.

Former Ephrata police Det. John Phillips told the court Eakin and his attorney identified the location where Savoie allegedly threw a knife into the park's large pond.

A diver located the knife in the location Eakin described, near where Sorger's body lay.

Prosecutors say the recovered folding knife had a broken blade, matching a metal blade tip recovered from Sorger's skull.

William Schneck, with the Washington State Patrol crime lab in Cheney, testified Tuesday the folding knife authorities said was recovered from the lake matched the broken off tip from the victim's body.

Dr. Gina Fino, a forensic pathologist and former Chelan County coroner, told jurors she performed Sorger's autopsy and determined he died from multiple stab wounds.

Savoie's defense attorneys, Monty Hormel and Randy Smith, contend Sorger was injured after falling from a tree. In opening statements, Hormel said Savoie and Eakin left the scene after Sorger was hurt because they didn't want to be blamed for the accident. Hormel suggested someone else came along and murdered the injured boy.

In a Feb. 16, 2003 interview with Ephrata police, Savoie said Sorger fell from a tree. Savoie said he rushed to help the injured boy, who was bleeding. He became paranoid, he told police, once Sorger's blood was on his clothing. He ran from the scene and ditched his shirt and sweatshirt in a smaller pond in the park, because they were bloody.

Grant County Prosecutor John Knodell asked Fino if Savoie's statements to police that day were consistent with injuries found on the body.

"The statement is not consistent with the injuries I found," Fino said.

Sorger also had defensive injuries, she said, including cuts to his left hand.

"The subject was aware of being attacked," Fino said. "(Sorger) was alive when the stab and blunt force wounds were inflicted."

During cross-examination, Smith focused on the possibility another autopsy expert could reach different conclusions about Sorger's injuries.

Fino agreed different conclusions were possible.

Karen Green, a forensic scientist with the Washington State Patrol crime lab in Tacoma, provided the court with an analysis of clothing that police say was worn by Eakin and Savoie the day Sorger was murdered.

Green said an undershirt worn by Savoie and a jacket worn by Eakin were both stained with Sorger's blood. She examined Savoie's shirt and sweatshirt taken from the pond, but did not find Sorger's blood on them, she testified.

Smith zeroed in on errors made previously at the crime lab during his cross examination.

"There have been errors made in the crime lab before," Green admitted.

Smith said the crime lab only tests what is requested by law enforcement.

"I'd say that's a starting point for us," Green explained. "We try to pick the best items and the best test that will give us results."

Now that prosecutors have finished presenting their evidence in the case, the defense team is expected to begin calling their first witnesses today.