Welsh faces murder charge
Saturday, September 8, 2007 8:33 AM PDT
By Barbara LaBoe
Printable version
E-mail this articleKevin Michael Welsh now faces a second-degree murder charge in last weekend's shooting at a West Longview mobile home park -- but his lawyer said Welsh is anxious to clear his name.
"This is a very strong self-defense case," lawyer Jim Morgan told Superior Court Judge Stephen Warning Friday during Welsh's first appearance on the increased charges. "This is a home invasion -- all the events happened inside his home."
Welsh originally was charged with four counts of second-degree assault and was freed after posting $50,000 bail. He was re-arrested Thursday.
Welsh, 45, is accused of fatally shooting 42-year-old Daniel Archie Milloy, 42, of Longview on Sept. 1 after the two men's wives got into a verbal and then physical altercation at the Del Ray II mobile park. Milloy was shot multiple times, according to the Cowlitz County coroner, but officials have not released the exact number of shots.
According to police reports and court documents, Welsh also pointed the gun at Milloy's wife, Korena, and her parents, Ed and Judy Lane. In addition to the murder charge, he still faces four counts of second-degree assault (one count includes pointing a gun at Daniel Milloy before the shooting). Deputy Prosecutor Amie Hunt argued Friday that the number of alleged victims demonstrates that Welsh poses a threat to the community.
In addition, Hunt said she was concerned that Welsh had had a verbal disagreement with another trailer court resident just prior to the shooting and that he has reportedly voluntarily stopped taking his anti-depressant medication.
Morgan, arguing for a reduction in bail, described his client as a local man with a "spotless" record who has many friends and family in the area. He added Welsh has no reason to flee because "his desire is to have his day in court, confront the evidence and be acquitted."
Morgan also said Welsh is a longtime employee of Pacific Fibre Products in Longview and that his fellow co-workers hold him in "such good standing" that they've collected money for Welsh's bail.
Prosecutors set Welsh's bail on the murder charge at $250,000, based on the "heinous" nature of the alleged crime and concerns about community safety, Hunt said. Warning decreased it to $75,000 Friday afternoon, saying Welsh would get credit for the $50,000 already posted for the initial assault charges.
Welsh is barred from possessing a firearm, approaching any of the alleged victims and drinking or using illegal drugs if released on bail.
Welsh posted a cash bond and was released from the Cowlitz County Jail Friday night.
Prosecutors also charged Welsh with first-degree manslaughter in the event a judge or jury doesn't find him guilty of the more serious second-degree murder. Both charges include a firearm enhancement. If convicted on the murder charge with the enhancement, Welsh faces up to 23 years in prison.
According to police and court records, the shooting began when Welsh's wife, Kim, yelled a slanderous remark to Korena Milloy. Daniel and Korena Milloy were visiting her parents, who live in the same mobile home park as the Welshes.
Kevin Welsh and Daniel Milloy had words about the incident and Welsh then pulled a pistol out of his vehicle and threatened to shoot Milloy, according to police reports. Daniel Milloy returned to his in-laws' home, but Korena Milloy was still upset and went to the Welsh trailer.
Kim Welsh struck her with a baseball bat on the trailer's front porch, and the women moved inside after Korena Milloy threw a punch, according to reports. Daniel Milloy then also went inside the trailer, followed by Kevin Welsh, who had retrieved the gun.
Inside, Kevin Welsh allegedly shot Daniel Milloy multiple times. Then, according to police reports, Welsh pointed the gun at Korena Milloy and her parents when they entered the trailer after hearing gunshots and he threatened to shoot all of them as well.
Friday, Kim Welsh's face still bore a large, hand-sized bruise and her right arm was heavily bandaged as she and 11 relatives and friends attended her husband's hearing. All declined to comment on Morgan's advice.
Friends and family of Milloy also declined to comment.
But Kevin Welsh, during his initial police interview on Sept. 1, told police he shot Milloy because he felt threatened.
"I was afraid that he was going to hurt me," Welsh told police. "I saw my wife all bloody, so I shot him. He was in my home."
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