Judge denies motion to dismiss charges pending against man suspected in wife’s death

A man accused of killing his wife in January 2018 had his motion to dismiss the case against him based on speedy trial rules denied Thursday.

William W. Bost, 60, crashed into a Spokane County Sheriff’s deputy’s car in Spokane Valley on Jan. 6, 2018, and told the deputy that his wife, Jade, 64, was dead and claimed his dog killed her. When deputies responded to Bost’s house, they reportedly saw the woman lying in a pool of blood with two knives near her.

Bost represented himself when he asked Superior Court Judge Charnelle Bjelkengren to dismiss the charges he faces, including one count of first-degree murder and nine counts of illegal possession of a firearm, on Nov. 21.

In the nearly two years since his arrest, Bost has had four public defenders represent him.

He spent 15 days at Eastern State Hospital in May 2018 for a competency evaluation. His lawyer at the time asked for a second opinion and an independent evaluation of Bost’s mental state at the time of the crime. The wait for additional evaluations kept Bost’s case suspended.

Bjelkengren said she was unsure if the delay qualified as grounds for dismissal on Nov. 21 but came back with a firm answer Thursday.

Speedy trial rules dictate that a trial must take place within 60 days of arraignment, she noted, but time spent determining a suspect’s competency does not count toward those 60 days.

While Bjelkengren acknowledged that Bost’s attorneys could have done a better job communicating with their client, she ruled that speedy trial rules had not been violated.

“Mr. Bost’s confusion is understandable,” Bjelkengren said. “The court is concerned with the lack of communication.”

Bjelkengren said Bost should have been brought to court for the multiple stay hearings related to his case, because – unlike many clients whose cases are on a stay – he was not in an active mental health crisis.

“For these reasons, I do believe we should do better and the court could do better,” Bjelkengren told Bost from the bench.

Bost has not asked for a new public defender to represent him at his upcoming court dates, the next of which is scheduled for Jan. 13.