Trial Opens In Killing Of Girl, 16 -- Suspect's Friend Is Key Witness In Shoreline Case

The first-degree-murder case against a young Shoreline man accused of killing a teen-age girl who was obsessed with him largely hinges on the testimony of his best friend.

King County prosecutors allege that Matthew B. Wright, 20, killed 16-year-old Audra Letnes because she was using a potential rape case against him.

"He was desperate to stop her from following through on her rape charges against him," said senior Deputy Prosecutor Bruce Miyake during yesterday's opening statements. "He knew her testimony could put him in prison."

Letnes' body was found near the bushes in Innis Arden Park May 12. She had been stabbed, strangled and beaten with a concrete block.

Miyake said Letnes was so taken by Wright that she endured his abuse for several months and continued to see him even after a judge issued a restraining order prohibiting contact between the two, because of threats Wright allegedly made over the rape allegation.

But prosecutors have almost a completely circumstantial case that rests heavily on the testimony of Wright's close friend, B.J. Reynolds.

Several days after the murder, King County police arrested Reynolds on a misdemeanor warrant. Reynolds initially told them he knew nothing of the murder but later said Wright admitted to the killing.

During unusually drawn-out pretrial motions before Judge Bobbe Bridge, Reynolds indicated he planned to invoke his Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination and not testify. Bridge ruled he had no right, and Reynolds was found in contempt and briefly jailed until he eventually agreed to testify.

Miyake said Wright called Reynolds several hours after Letnes was killed and told him how he did it.

Defense attorney Peter Connick says Wright had nothing to do with the killing and prosecutors have no physical evidence linking him to it.

"Prosecutors have no eyewitnesses and no physical evidence," Connick said. "So they must talk of possible motives and opportunities, and bring up issues that paint Matthew as a bad character to inflame the jury."

Reynolds, he said, originally told police he knew nothing of the murder and only fingered Wright after police intimated they were thinking of charging Reynolds.

Miyake maintains statements Reynolds attributed to Wright contained significant information, including details of the girl's death, that hadn't been released to the public.

Connick also said a boarder in Wright's home will testify she saw him shortly after midnight on May 12, about the time of the murder.

Miyake says Letnes' diary indicates she was obsessed with Wright even though he allegedly once put a loaded gun to her head, hogtied her and made her steal for him.

Two months before her death, Letnes' mother read her diary, which told of abuse and sexual assault, and contacted police. Letnes told police Wright had raped her, though Miyake said Letnes appeared to be using the police investigation to manipulate Wright to some extent.

Letnes received a call about 9 p.m. May 11 and eventually sneaked out of her mother's house. Her alarm clock had been set for 12:01 a.m. Miyake said he will present evidence that will show she was responding to Wright's invitation.

Since his arrest, Wright has been convicted of rape in connection with another case.