Jury convicts Ellington in murder case
COEUR d’ALENE — A second Kootenai County jury has now found Jonathan W. Ellington guilty of second-degree murder and two counts of aggravated battery, following a re-trial of his case.
The jury in 1st District Court deliberated until shortly before 3 p.m. Tuesday before reaching a verdict. The seven women and five men decided Ellington, 51, deliberately ran over and killed 41-year-old Vonette Larsen with his Chevrolet Blazer and rammed a car occupied by two of her daughters on New Year’s Day 2006.
Before Tuesday, jurors already deliberated for half a day Friday and a full day Monday. Members of the jury declined to comment as they left the Kootenai County Courthouse.
Ellington’s public defender, John Adams, visibly disappointed by the verdict, said, “I can’t understand how any reasonable juror could reach that verdict.”
He said it’s the most unfair jury decision he’s seen in 30 years of criminal trials.
Vonette Larsen’s husband, 48-year-old Joel Larsen, declined comment as he left the courthouse with daughters Joleen, 24, and Jovon, 27.
District Court Judge John Luster scheduled sentencing for March 26. Luster allowed Ellington to remain free on bond until then.
Evidence at trial showed Ellington, an Athol resident at the time, was involved in a road-rage confrontation with Jovon and Joleen Larsen. The sisters called 911 immediately after their brief encounter with Ellington near the intersection of Ramsey and Brunner roads. The women also called their parents, who joined in a chase of Ellington. The sisters told the 911 dispatcher they couldn’t see a license plate on the Blazer.
The Larsens, in two cars, eventually cornered Ellington’s Blazer on Scarcello Road, less than a mile east of the Twin Lakes Village and Highway 41.
Ellington rammed the sisters’ Honda Accord, pushing it 48 feet and partially off the roadway, then he ran over Vonette Larsen after she got out of the car she was driving and ran across the road toward her daughters.
Joel Larsen, of Athol, testified that he got out of the car with his wife and he shot his .44-caliber Magnum revolver at Ellington’s Blazer before and after his wife was run over and killed. He said only one shot was fired before she was run over, and four more rounds were fired as Ellington sped away from the scene.
“It was a difficult case,” said Kootenai County Prosecutor Barry McHugh. “Anybody associated with this case knows it’s complicated.”
He said the charges were appropriate, based on the facts. McHugh assisted deputy prosecutor Art Verharen with the case.
“The result reflects what we believe happened,” McHugh said.
The Idaho Supreme Court overturned the last conviction and allowed a new trial, citing perjury by a prosecution witness and prosecutorial misconduct. The previous trial was in 2006.
McHugh said, “Both sides tried really hard to make sure this trial was fair.”
He said he hasn’t decided what prison sentence to seek for Ellington.
Kootenai County Sheriff’s Department Det. Brad Maskell, said, “I’m glad the jury took a look at the facts of the case,” and agreed with prosecutors and law enforcement investigators.