Prosecutors can’t use police interview in Portland murder trial

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) – A Multnomah County judge says prosecutors can’t use statements a murder suspect made to police because the detective talked to the man after he asked for an attorney.

Prosecutors charged 39-year-old Russell Courtier of intentionally running down a black teen in 2016 after an altercation in a convenience store parking lot.

Courtier has pleaded not guilty to murder and intimidation – a hate crime – in the death of 19-year-old Larnell Malik Bruce Jr. at the Gresham 7-Eleven.

Courtier’s girlfriend, Colleen Hunt, was in the passenger seat of Courtier’s Jeep.

She has pleaded not guilty to intimidation.

The Oregonian/OregonLive reported Friday that Detective Aaron Turnage stopped an initial interview when Courtier asked for a lawyer.

But hours later, Turnage told Courtier Bruce would likely die and Courtier began to talk.

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Information from: The Oregonian/OregonLive, http://www.oregonlive.com