Multnomah County Judge Cheryl Albrecht has denied bail to Jeremy Christian, the man accused of murdering two people in May while riding a light-rail train in Portland.
Albrecht signed the order Friday, but it was made public Monday.
Christian was in court Wednesday for his bail hearing. But Albrecht didn’t rule then because she needed to review a mental health evaluation and additional video evidence submitted by the defense.
Police say Christian boarded a light rail train on the afternoon of May 26 and shouted racist remarks at two African American girls. One of the girls was wearing a hijab.
As Christian grew more upset and passengers intervened, Christian took out a nearly 4-inch knife, prosecutors said in court filings.
Christian then stabbed three victims in the neck and head 11 times in 11 seconds, Portland police homicide Detective Michele Michaels said during Wednesday’s bail hearing.
Taliesin Namkai-Meche and Ricky Best died in the attack. Portland State University student Micah Fletcher survived and was court Wednesday for Christian’s bail hearing.
Christian has been charged with two counts of aggravated murder, attempted murder, multiple counts of an unlawful use of a weapon and multiple counts of intimidation in the second degree for events on May 26, as well as an alleged assault that took place on a different MAX train the evening of May 25.
The hearing Wednesday was emotional for victims and their families. Using still shots taken from TriMet and cell phone video, prosecutors spent nearly an hour walking through a graphic and detailed series of events that unfolded on the light-rail train.
Christian’s defense attorneys argued their client was in a deteriorating mental state and provided new details: that Christian suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder and anxiety and that he has a number of strong, unique beliefs.
For example, the defense said Christian holds conspiratorial beliefs surrounding circumcision, not paying taxes and has an intense focus on free speech.
