Wednesday, January 20, 1999

By ELAINE PORTERFIELD
SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER REPORTER

A man with an extensive background of violence and harassment pleaded not guilty yesterday to aggravated murder in the deaths of two sisters from Burien.

Prosecutors now have 30 days to decide whether to seek the death penalty against 23-year-old Derrick Jones. The only other possible sentence for an aggravated murder conviction is life in prison without possibility of release.

As King County deputy prosecutor Tim Bradshaw read the charges, family and friends of the slain sisters attending Jones' arraignment made derogatory comments in the courtroom.

Afterward, Kimberley Peterson, the mother of the dead sisters, stood in the hall with tears in her eyes.

"I hope he gets the death penalty," she said.

Shawna Peterson, 24, was shot to death in bed Jan. 10. Her sister, Autumn Peterson, 19, was then fatally shot as she slept on a living-room sofa.

Jaselle Scott, 21, was shot in the shoulder and is recovering from his wound.

Jones was an ex-boyfriend of Shawna Peterson and was angry over money that was owed to him, according to court papers.

Jones faces one count of first-degree attempted murder for Scott's shooting. Scott survived by playing dead, according to prosecutors.

Jones has a long violent criminal history. Prior to the murder charges, he was most recently booked into jail Dec. 21 for failing to appear in court on weapons charges. He was released Dec. 30.

His release has spawned controversy among friends of the Petersons. On Dec. 30, prosecutors argued for a $100,000 cash-only bail, saying Jones was dangerous, had failed to appear in court 49 times and had been booked into jail 30 times.

Superior Court Judge Janice Niemi released Jones by reinstating a previous $50,000 bond Jones had already paid, according to prosecutors.

She has since said that she was trying to be fair to both sides when she made her decision.

Niemi has received death threats. She was replaced on the bench yesterday by Superior Court Judge Michael Spearman, who took Jones' plea.

Jones appeared in court yesterday with prominent Seattle defense attorney John Henry Browne at his side.

It is a rematch of sorts for Browne and Bradshaw, who have faced each other on previous cases.