SEATTLE — The trial for a homeless man accused of raping a woman at a Ballard car dealership is scheduled to start Wednesday.
Prosecutors say Christopher Teel broke into the temporary restroom at Carter Subaru last year and violently sexually assaulted a woman who was inside.
Teel was living in Nicklesville, then in Ballard, less than a week before the rape. At that time, records show he had an active warrant for his arrest from 2016 for criminal trespassing for breaking into and squatting at a home in the Magnolia neighborhood, police said.
The revelation had both the victim and the community asking why the suspect was allowed at a city-sanctioned homeless camp, and what the city could have done to prevent the rape.
In April, the victim spoke about the attack in a documentary by Christopher Rufo, as part of a call for change in how Seattle is handling the homelessness crisis.
"(Teel) was using public services to survive," the victim said. "I think we all need to acknowledge what we’re doing isn’t working. What we’re doing right now is actually harming us and we need strong leaders. And strong leaders, in my opinion, are out there."
The 24-year-old suspect has been held in jail since last May. Doctors at Western State Hospital found Teel competent to stand trial in February.
Jury selection begins Wednesday.
Cox Media Group
