PORT ANGELES — A charge of second-degree murder has been filed against a Sequim man accused in the death of a Marysville man after a fight in Port Angeles two weeks ago.
Casey Joseph Balch, 21 — who pleaded not guilty June 8 to first- and second-degree assault charges at his arraignment in Clallam County Superior Court — will be arraigned on the new charge at 1:30 p.m. Tuesday before Judge Brooke Taylor at the Clallam County Courthouse, 223 E. Fourth St.
The murder charge, filed Friday, was added after Donald G. Knechtel, 48, of Marysville died June 10 of injuries suffered during an altercation outside the Front Street Alibi bar June 1.
Clallam County Superior Court Judge George L. Wood had set a trial date of Oct. 1. That could be postponed in light of the additional charge.
According to a Port Angeles police report, witnesses reported that Balch took off his shirt and attempted to start a fight with Knechtel’s co-worker, Clint A. Crook, outside the Front Street Alibi bar June 1.
Tried to stop fight
“When Knechtel attempted to push Crook and Balch apart, Balch turned his attention to him,” cursing and then throwing a punch “which hit him in the face,” a police report said.
The force of the blow knocked Knechtel to the ground.
His head slammed on the asphalt, knocking him unconscious.
Knechtel was transported to Olympic Medical Center and transferred to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle, where he died of his injuries 10 days later.
According to a Port Angeles Police Department report, Dr. Brian Mazrim, King County associate medical examiner, determined that Knechtel died of cerebral hemorrhaging from blunt-force trauma to the back of the head, which caused multiple skull fractures.
Mazrim classified the manner of death as “homicidal violence,” based on injuries, witness observations and statements.
Clallam County Deputy Prosecuting Attorney John Troberg had said earlier this week that he would decide whether to file new charges against Balch by Friday and was awaiting further information from a Port Angeles Police Department investigation into the case.
Balch was released on $50,000 bond after his first arraignment, with the stipulation that he wear a GPS locator bracelet equipped with a device that detects the presence of alcohol, Troberg said.
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Reporter Arwyn Rice can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 5070, or at arwyn.rice@peninsuladailynews.com.
