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Carpet knife attack kills mother, injures daughter at Snohomish home

By Joanna Small
By Joanna Small

SNOHOMISH, Wash. — The man accused of attacking two women inside their own home with a carpet cutter -- killing one of them -- appeared in Snohomish County Court today.

John Kuljis, 31, is facing first-degree murder charges and assault charges for the death of 78-year-old Barbara Decker and the injuries to her daughter 62-year-old Janine Shaffer.

Today in court, his defense attorney argued that the attack was not premeditated and the charges should be downgraded to second-degree murder.

Prosecutors said because Kuljis allegedly killed Decker first and then summoned her daughter into the bathroom where he attacked her, he planned the crime. The judge found probable cause to pursue first-degree murder charges.

Coming up on KIRO 7 at 5 p.m., reporter Joanna Small has reaction from the mother of the suspect and the son of the victim.

Cox Media Group

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