Jason Coday

Jason Michael Coday is a man from Vernal, Utah.cite web |url=http://www.juneauempire.com/stories/080906/loc_20060809016.shtml |title=Bail remains at $1 million for Utah man in murder case |accessdate=2008-01-17 |date=2006-08-09 |work=Juneau Empire ] On May 15, 2007, he was convicted of first-degree murder in the death of Simone Yung Kim behind the Fred Meyer store in Juneau, Alaska on August 4, 2006. It was the city's first murder in five years.

History

Coday was a drifter doing odd jobs. The week before Kim's death, he had worked in Ketchikan, Alaska at a fish processing plant; he had planned to do similar work in Juneau.

:"I never really had one [job] to stick with."::—Jason Coday, during a police interrogation

Two months prior to Kim's death, he had been accused of a similar gun crime in Nevada, when he allegedly harassed the Top family in Sandy Valley, Nevada. Upon being arrested, he was found with methamphetamine (which he admitted to using to police) and marijuana in addition to a sawed-off shotgun and ammunition. He is a registered felon in that state. Coday skipped bail and a warrant for his arrest was issued in July 2006.cite web |url=http://www.juneauempire.com/stories/050607/loc_20070506017.shtml |title=2006 Shopping center slaying: Trial set for 1st murder in 5 years |accessdate=2008-01-17 |last=Skinner |first=Greg |date=2007-05-06 |work=Juneau Empire ]

Coday came to Juneau on August 2, 2006; on the same day, he is believed to have taken a gun from Rayco Sales, a Juneau gun store, leaving $200 on the counter. He also bought ammunition at the Fred Meyer store using cash. The murder of Simone Yung Kim, a paint contractor from Anchorage, Alaska, was apparently a random act of violence. Coday allegedly shot Kim in the face and continued to shoot the victim using two more rounds of ammunition. Juneau resident Ed Buyarski attempted to take the gun from Coday but the latter escaped into the woods behind the store. Buyarski, whose training in hunting had included muzzle control, notified the police. On July 19, he was awarded a commendation from the [http://www.apoaonline.org/ Alaska Peace Officers Association] for his actions.cite web |url=http://www.juneauempire.com/stories/072007/loc_20070720024.shtml |title=The right man at the right time |accessdate=2008-01-17 |last=Keeker |first=Korry |date=2007-07-20 |work=Juneau Empire ]

Trial details

Coday's bail had been set at $1 million. The trial, "State of Alaska v. Coday",cite web |url=http://www.law.state.ak.us/pdf/newsetters/2007-05-MR.pdf |title=State of Alaska Department of Law Monthly Report, May 2007 |accessdate=2008-01-17 |format=PDF ] began on Monday, May 7, 2007. The defense attempted to have Coday's arrest and the gathering of evidence in the case deemed illegal, due to inconsistencies in witnesses' description of the suspect at the time of the arrest,cite web |url=http://www.juneauempire.com/stories/050707/loc_20070507018.shtml |title=Shopping center slaying: Defense claims man's arrest 'illegal' |accessdate=2008-01-17 |last=Lewis |first=Ken |date=2007-05-07 |work=Juneau Empire ] but Juneau Superior Court Judge Michael Thompson decided against the proposal.cite web |url=http://www.juneauempire.com/stories/050707/loc_20070507018.shtml |title=Shopping center slaying: Judge rules that Coday was legally arrested |accessdate=2008-01-17 |last=Lewis |first=Ken |date=2007-05-08 |work=Juneau Empire ]

Jury selection began on May 8 and concluded the following day.cite web |url=http://www.juneauempire.com/stories/050907/loc_20070509031.shtml |title=Shopping center slaying: Jury selection to enter its second day |accessdate=2008-01-17 |last=Skinner |first=Greg |date=2007-05-09 |work=Juneau Empire ] Testimony lasted from May 10cite web |url=http://www.juneauempire.com/stories/051007/loc_20070510001.shtml |title=Shopping center slaying: Testimony begins in murder trial |accessdate=2008-01-17 |last=Skinner |first=Greg |date=2007-05-10 |work=Juneau Empire ] and ended on May 15, when the jury began deliberation.cite web |url=http://www.juneauempire.com/stories/051507/loc_20070515012.shtml |title=Jury deliberates in Coday murder trial |accessdate=2008-01-17 |last=Skinner |first=Greg |date=2007-05-15 |work=Juneau Empire ]

The prosecution used the testimony of two Fred Meyer workers who witnessed the killing. In addition, the owner of Rayco Sales, Ray Coxe, testified that Coday had taken (but paid for) a .22-caliber rifle which he identified as the murder weapon. DNA evidence pointed to Coday as the killer with the odds of an error being about 1 in 49 billion.cite web |url=http://www.juneauempire.com/stories/051307/loc_20070513023.shtml |title=Coday prosecution reveals DNA evidence |accessdate=2008-01-17 |last=Skinner |first=Greg |date=2007-05-13 |work=Juneau Empire ] Tracks from Coday's shoes at the crime scene were another factor.

Upon the reading of the verdict, Coday head-butted his own attorney, David Seid, and was taken out of the courtroom.cite web |url=http://www.juneauempire.com/stories/051607/loc_20070516018.shtml |title=Coday found guilty, attacks his attorney |accessdate=2008-01-17 |last=Skinner |first=Greg |date=2007-05-16 |work=Juneau Empire ] Coday received 99 years in prison for Kim's death, and two more years for sawing off the end of the murder weapon. He will be eligible for parole in 2046.cite web |url=http://www.juneauempire.com/stories/081207/loc_20070812019.shtml |title=Coday receives 101 years |accessdate=2008-01-17 |last=Skinner |first=Greg |date=2007-08-12 |work=Juneau Empire ]

In an update posted by the Juneau Empire on July 31st, 2008:

The family of murdered Simone Young Kim are seeking damages for wrongful death against not only the killer, but the owner of the gun shop where the killer procured his weapon.

Court documents allege that Ray Coxe, owner of Rayco Sales, should have known better than to leave Jason Coday alone in the store with a rifle. Further details to follow. [http://www.juneaublogger.com/updates/?p=820]

References