PORT TOWNSEND — Robert Froehlich made a brief appearance in Jefferson County Superior Court on Friday at the start of his second-degree murder trial for the alleged stabbing death of a 15-year-old Quilcene girl.
Froehlich, 29, formerly of Quilcene, was brought before Superior Court Judge Thomas Majhan at a hearing in which Majhan ruled on last-minute objections by attorneys over admissible evidence in the trial.
Majhan, who will be the sole arbiter of Froehlich’s innocence or guilt because Froehlich agreed to a bench trial last month, asked Froehlich if he wanted to change his mind about waiving his right to a jury trial.
“I’m giving you one last chance to change your mind,” Majhan told Froehlich, who was brought to court in an orange prison jumpsuit and returned to the Jefferson County jail after the hearing.
“I’m fine with that,” Froehlich said.
Froehlich is charged with the second-degree murder of Allison Tornensis, 15, of Quilcene in July 1992.
Majhan will spend the next several days reviewing written testimony submitted by Prosecuting Attorney Juelie Dalzell and Froehlich’s attorney, Gerald Barnhart.
At 3 p.m. Thursday, Froehlich will be back in court when closing oral arguments are heard.
No witness testimony will be presented
