A man convicted of trying to kill his ex-wife by lighting her on fire told a Snohomish County judge Wednesday that he actually tried to save her.
The judge didn't buy his story and sentenced David Morgan to nearly 22 years in prison.
Brenda Welch spoke first and was overtaken by a year and a half's worth of emotions as she addressed Judge Joseph Wilson before he sentenced her ex-husband. She has permanent scars from the 2014 fire at Morgan’s Lynnwood home.
Prosecutor Paul Stern stepped in to read part of Welch's statement for her: "She says 'I still have problem with my head and burns and still have surgeries,' and if my memory is correct you have one Friday?"
He asked Welch, who confirmed she does.
Welch could only bring herself to speak for a minute; David Morgan spoke for 15 minutes, telling an elaborate, never before heard version of events not presented at trial. In fact, he didn't even testify.
"My strongest ally in this matter does not remember what happened. The injuries to her are significant and horrible and I had no hand in them,” Morgan told the judge.
He went as far as to blame his victim, claiming he feared for his life.
"Brenda kept running towards me I thought she was going to set me on fire and I was screaming,” Morgan continued.
He told the judge he tried to save her.
"I grabbed the firewood container and I filled it full of water, and I doused myself with water, and as I turned to go back inside that house the gust of heat and smoke slammed the door in my face,” Morgan said.
Judge Wilson listened -- to what he said was a fictional story Morgan invented to ease his guilt.
"If that will allow him to live with what he did I guess so be it,” the judge concluded, before sentencing Morgan to nearly 22 years in prison, the maximum sentence allowed by law.
Welch told us after the hearing that she couldn't imagine Morgan ever trying to save her. Although she doesn't remember the fire, she says their divorce was bitter, and Morgan was incredibly angry.
She says she'll feel safe knowing he's behind bars.
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