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Clerk may face death penaltyTACOMA (AP) — Prosecutors say they will consider seeking the death penalty if a part-time grocery produce clerk is convicted of stabbing to death a pregnant co-worker.Michael Paul Lovrick, 19, of the Lakewood area, pleaded innocent Thursday to a single count of first-degree murder in the death of Sally Ann Hale, who was killed at the Safeway store where both she and Lovrick workedPierce County Superior Court Judge W.L. Brown Jr. set bail at $500,000 and trial for Feb. 23.The Pierce County Coroner’s Office issued a separate death certificate Thursday for Mrs. Hale’s unborn daughter. Mrs. Hale was seven months pregnant.Deputy Prosecutor Jerry Witt said his office has 30 days to decide whether to seek the death penalty.“We are considering the deathpenalty, but we do not take it lightly,” he said.Witt had asked Judge Brown to hold Lovrick without bail because of “aggravating” circumstances in the crime. The death penalty can beMICHAEL LOVRICKsought if such circumstances are shown at trial.In Mrs. Hale’s death, aggravating circumstances could include the combined crimes of robbery and murder, or that two murders occurred, if prosecutors file a separate charge for the fetus.Witt said a decision whether to file a second charge will be made after prosecutors receive all available information on the case.Lovrick’s court-appointed attorney, Steven Gregorich, told Judge Brown that he reserved the right to enter an insanity plea for his client.“He’s never been in trouble before — serious or not serious,” Gregorich said outside the courtroom.Mrs. Hale, 22, was slain Sunday night in the Oak brook Safeway Store, in the Lakewood area south of Tacoma.Lovrick, described by store manager Bill Savage as a “somewhat quiet, but very friendly boy,” was arrested without incident Wednesday evening at the store by Pierce County sheriffs officers acting on a confidential tip, said Sheriff’s Lt. I^rry Gibbs. “I always felt I could have asked him for anything and he would have given it to me, Savage said.Hired as a boxboy 3*^ to four years ago, he had worked his way up to the produce department, Savage said.
Newspaper Details
Walla Walla Union Bulletin
Walla Walla, Washington, US
Fri, Dec 31, 1982
Page 5
Full Page
Clipped by
Chelsey Z.
WA, USA 06 Nov 2021
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