Attorney Renee Rothauge, left, shows a video clip to jurors Monday during the wrongful death trial filed by the family of Effie Entezari, who was killed in 1989. She promised to show the jury evidence that the defendant in the suit, Viktor Pell, was responsible for Entezari’s death, despite the woman’s estranged husband being convicted of the crime and serving 16 years in prison. (Taylor Balkom/The Columbian)Photo Gallery
The civil wrongful death lawsuit was brought by the family of Eftekhar “Effie” Entezari against Viktor Pell, now 86, and eight unnamed defendants. Entezari was killed May 1, 1989, in the parking lot of her apartment complex at 11614 N.E. 49th St., Vancouver.
The family’s attorney, Renee Rothauge, said during her opening statement that Mike Entezari, Effie Entezari’s estranged husband, maintained his innocence until he died — not long after he was released from a 16-year prison stint in the killing.
“This isn’t about sending Mr. Pell to prison, this is about holding him accountable and finding justice for the Entezari family, after all this time,” Rothauge said to the Clark County Superior Court jury. “You will be able to decide who really murdered Effie Entezari, and you will be the jury who sets the record straight.”
Pell, in a written statement read by an interpreter, pointed to Mike Entezari’s conviction as proof of his own innocence. He denied any involvement in Effie Entezari’s death.
He said in his statement that he can’t afford an attorney to help him with the case, and he does not intend to testify in his own defense for fear the plaintiff’s attorneys will twist his words.
“The simple fact is I’m innocent of the allegation made against me,” Pell’s statement said. “The plaintiff’s team of attorneys will no doubt paint an elaborate, fantastical story.”
Pell said in his statement that the family had previously offered him the reward for any information, but he said he didn’t know anything and he would’ve told them if he did.
Golik declined last month to explain his analysis of the information that Gray’s attorneys have gathered so as not to affect the wrongful death suit. While he said he’ll keep an eye on the outcome of the suit, he declined to say whether his office would bring criminal charges against Pell if a civil jury finds him responsible for Effie Entezari’s death.
Rothauge said Clark County sheriff’s detectives did not properly consider any other suspects besides her husband in the woman’s slaying. Their desire to get enough evidence to arrest Mike Entezari meant they pressured scientists at the Washington State Patrol crime lab to erroneously connect his gun to the crime.
The attorneys played an animation of how they say the shooting happened and how the killer got away. They promised to show this jury new evidence that the jury in the criminal case decades ago didn’t get to consider.
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Rothauge said they’ll hear from a DNA expert who will testify that DNA left on Effie Entezari’s sweater could’ve belonged to Pell and could not have belonged to Mike Entezari. She said a firearms expert will tell them that Mike Entezari’s gun could not have fired the fatal bullet. They’ll also hear from the couple’s daughter, Gray, who has spent her adult life investigating the crime.
“The evidence will show that Mike Entezari did not kill Effie Entezari, and the evidence will show that it was Viktor Pell who did this,” Rothauge said.
Pell said he can understand Gray’s desire to clear her father’s name, because, “We all have parents and want to think the best of them.”
But, he said they have the wrong man.
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