Manslaughter trial is set for Mattila

By Terry Murry on Tuesday, October 19th, 2021 in Columbia Basin News More Top Stories

PENDLETON – The second trial of John McKenzie Mattila, 26, of Weston will be held from Nov. 15 through Nov. 22. Umatilla County District Attorney Dan Primus said Mattila is one of the non-unanimous jury convictions that was vacated by the U.S. Supreme Court. His trial will be held at the Stafford Hansell Government Center in Hermiston.

“It was 11-1 on the manslaughter counts, counts one and two; it was 10 to 2 on the DUII charge, and then it was 12-0 on the failure to perform the duties of a driver,” Primus said.

Mattila was returned to Umatilla County on Sept. 29 for re-trial, and his bail has been set at $500,000.

“We knew that these cases were going to be coming back, but it’s just a matter of when they come back as they work their way through the appellate courts,” Primus said.

Mattila’s first trial in the death of Adelaida Solis Torres on Feb. 22, 2019 lasted six days. Primus said this one will probably take longer.

“It will be a little bit longer because there was a first trial,” he said. “”Also COVID restrictions make it different. When we go through the jury selection process it takes a little bit longer. We’re limited with the number of people we can have in the room.” A trial readiness date has been set for Oct. 29.