Kent man pleads not guilty to Oct. 16 stabbing death of girlfriend

Christel David Murphy pleaded not guilty Nov. 3 in King County Superior Court to a charge of first-degree murder of his Kent girlfriend.

King County prosecutors charged Murphy, 42, of Kent, in connection with the Oct. 16 stabbing death on Interstate 5 of Jane Kariuki, 42.

Murphy is accused of stabbing Kariuki 31 times with a 4-inch dinner knife as the couple rode in a sport-utility vehicle driven by Kariukii’s relative southbound on I-5 in North Seattle, according to charging papers. Kariuki died later that evening at Harborview Medical Center from a stab wound to the chest.

According to charging papers, Murphy has a long history of domestic violence, including fourth-degree assault in 2007 and third-degree assault in 2006 against Kariuki at the Kent home they shared. Murphy also had a pending charge against him in Kent Municipal Court for violation of a no-contact order as well as a valid no-contact order against him in place at the time he is accused of stabbing Kariuki.

Murphy was in the back seat of the SUV and attacked Kariuki as she sat in the front passenger seat, according to charging papers. The driver pulled over to the side of the freeway during the attack and called 911. Murphy reportedly walked out of the car, threw the knife on the ground, leaned against a guardrail and lit a cigarette.

Washington State Patrol troopers arrested Murphy on I-5 for investigation of murder. Police found the dinner knife on the pavement.

Murphy is scheduled to return to court Nov. 17, when a trial date could be set or the hearing rescheduled if either prosecutors or the defense request more time to prepare the case.

Murphy is being held at the King County jail in Seattle in lieu of $4 million bail.