PORT ANGELES — Gary Carl Borneman’s two-week murder trial is set to begin Dec. 15 in Clallam County Superior Court.
The 39-year-old Port Angeles man pleaded not guilty Friday to first-degree murder, first-degree kidnapping and five other charges related to the Oct. 7 shooting death of Gerald David “Jerry” Howell and kidnapping of Rebecca Messinger.
Borneman is charged with single counts of first-degree premeditated murder, first-degree kidnapping, first-degree burglary, second-degree assault with a deadly weapon, unlawful imprisonment, violation of a domestic violence protection order and second-degree unlawful possession of a firearm.
Firearm enhancements were added to the charges when Prosecuting Attorney William Payne filed them Oct. 13.
Borneman, wearing a black-and-white-striped, jail-issue jumpsuit, sat quietly in a five-minute arraignment as Superior Court Judge pro-tem Ken Williams scheduled the trial and set a status hearing for Dec. 5.
Borneman is being held in the Clallam County jail on $2 million bail.
Port Angeles police said Borneman took Messinger at gunpoint from his residence at 714 Georgiana St. and forced her to drive to her residence at 130 W. 11th St., which she shared with Howell, 40.
According to a statement from Messinger, Borneman fired a shot inside the vehicle as she drove.
Messinger, 31, told police that Borneman tied her to the driver’s seat and went inside the house after saying he had “been planning this for a long time.”
She escaped from the vehicle and later was found by police hiding in bushes in the alley behind the house.
Police found Borneman behind the house holding a .22-caliber pistol and bleeding from an apparent gunshot wound.
Borneman told police there was a “dead guy” inside the house, according to the certification for probable cause.
The back door to the house was kicked in, according to police, and Howell’s body was found in the laundry room with a shotgun between his legs.
After his arrest, Borneman was taken to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle with hand injuries.
Police have said his injuries took place during a close-quarters gunfight with Howell.
Messinger, who has a 2-year-old child with Borneman, has a valid protection order in which Messinger is the protected person and Borneman is the respondent.
Two funds have been set up to help Messinger move into a new house.
Donations can be made online at www.gofundme.com/fpoa40 or to the Becky Messinger fund at any area First Federal branch.
Healthy Families Clallam County, a domestic violence prevention and treatment center that provided a hotel room and vehicle for Messinger, is also accepting donations on her behalf.
Those who wish to donate through Healthy Families can phone 360-452-2381.
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Reporter Rob Ollikainen can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 5072, or at rollikainen@peninsuladailynews.com.
