PORT ANGELES — Lawyers agree that Lauryn Last, a 16-year-old accused of killing her newborn son, will not go to trial on the scheduled date of April 20.
But at a hearing Friday in Clallam County Superior Court, they could not agree on a new date.
In the six-minute status hearing, Judge S. Brooke Taylor ordered prosecuting attorney William Payne and defense attorney John Hayden to “put their heads together to see if they can come up with a recommended trial date” before next Friday’s status hearing.
“I need to know where we are,” Taylor said. “That’s the purpose of having a hearing today.”
Tried as an adult
Last will be tried as an adult in the Dec. 30 death of her infant son, Thomas Loy Last.
She pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder with a second-degree murder option at her Jan. 16 arraignment.
Last is being held on $500,000 bail at the Clallam County Juvenile Services Detention Facility in Port Angeles.
Her trial originally was set for March 2 and postponed on Feb. 27 because of an ongoing investigation.
Before a trial begins, a defense pathologist must review evidence, such as lab samples, from the infant’s autopsy.
“He really wants to look at slides, in particular slides from the autopsy, which he says will contain a wealth of information,” Hayden said.
Payne noted that the investigation is ongoing, and the defense was provided with more discovery on Wednesday and Thursday, including photographs from the autopsy.
The state is considering more experts for the trial, but it remains unclear when the prosecution will be ready.
“What I think we need to do is put our heads together and pick a realistic trial date that is solid, that we can count on, and take the steps necessary to get this matter to trial,” the judge said.
“Miss Last is 16 years old and is in detention and is going to be there until we have a trial.”
Ronald Last
Last was living with her father, Ronald Last, when they were both arrested on Jan. 2 at his Port Angeles home.
He was charged with the gross misdemeanor of concealing birth and felony charges of possession of a firearm and possession of methamphetamine.
He posted $10,000 bail shortly after his arrest and awaits a status hearing on Thursday.
The father’s trial is scheduled for May 4.
