Savoie pleads not guilty to murder
Savoie looks around the court room Moday as potential juriors are questioned during jury selection.
EPHRATA - Evan D. Savoie pleaded not guilty Tuesday to the 2003 death of Craig Sorger.
Savoie, 21, is charged with first degree murder after a Washington State Court of Appeals ruling calling for a new trial.
The appellate court ruled former Grant County Superior Court Judge Ken Jorgensen violated Savoie's rights when he closed the courtroom to the public during a hearing.
Monty Hormel, the Ephrata attorney who helped defend Savoie during his first trial, will handle the defense again.
Hormel could not be reached for comment.
Savoie and Jake Eakin were 12 years old when they reportedly beat and stabbed 12-year-old Sorger to death. Savoie was accused of dropping a rock on the victim's head and pressuring Eakin to take part, according to court records.
The day of the murder, Savoie and Eakin were dropped off at Oasis Park in Ephrata. They went to Sorger's house and invited him to play, according to court records.
Sorger's mother became concerned when the boy didn't return.
His body was found in Oasis Park.
Eakin pleaded guilty to second degree murder in April 2005 and was sentenced to 14 years in prison.
Savoie was convicted of first degree murder by a jury and sentenced to more than 26 years in prison.