No trial date yet for Emerald Williams

By Terry Murry on Monday, December 30th, 2024 in Columbia Basin News More Top Stories

PENDLETON – No trial date has been set yet for Emerald Williams, 40, of Milton-Freewater. She is charged with first-degree robbery and second-degree manslaughter for an incident at the Red Tea Garden in February.

Umatilla County District Attorney Dan Primus said that Williams has a new attorney and the court is allowing the time needed to familiarize the lawyer with the case. A status check is scheduled for early February. At that time, Primus said he hopes Sixth Circuit Court Judge Jon Lieuallen will schedule a trial.

He said that a pretrial conference this month showed that the defense wasn’t ready to go to trial.

“With the new counsel, they need to time to review, not even prepare, but just review where they stand,” Primus said.

Court records indicate that Williams was attempting to rob the restaurant and scuffled with the owner, Shu Yi Wu. The victim was injured in the altercation and the injury caused her death.

Photo of Emerald Williams was released by the Milton-Freewater Police Department before she turned herself in to authorities at the Umatilla County Jail.