Court date changed for Emerald Williams
By Terry Murry on Wednesday, August 21st, 2024 in Columbia Basin News More Top Stories
PENDLETON – Emerald Williams’ manslaughter trial stemming from an incident at the Red Tea Garden in February has been delayed a month. It was originally scheduled for Sept. 4-5.
“Ms. (Jaclyn) Jenkins and I are in the process of going through that and preparing for that, Umatilla County District Attorney Dan Primus said. We’ll have that trial coming up in October.”
Jenkins, who is chief deputy district attorney, said that the trial was delayed by a month at the request of the district attorney’s office. It was not because they weren’t prepared.
“One of our witnesses was not available on the date that was set,” she said.
The trial will be held before Sixth Circuit Court Judge Jon Lieuallen. Williams is charged with second-degree manslaughter and first-degree robbery. It is alleged that while robbing the Red Tea Garden, Williams pushed Shu Yi Wu to the ground, causing her to suffer a traumatic head injury, was operated on, and died the next day.
Both of the charges against Williams are Measure 11 offenses. Second-degree manslaughter carries a minimum sentence of six years and three months. First-degree robbery has a mandatory minimum sentence of seven years and six months.
Photo of Emerald Williams was released by the Milton-Freewater Police Department before she turned herself in to authorities at the Umatilla County Jail.
