Bernard Swaim Acquitted of murder

WENATCHEE -- It took the seven women, five man jury slightly more than two hours to reach a verdict of not guilty in the Bernard "Bernie" Swaim first degree murder case concluded here Wednesday, Sept. 6 at 4:30 p.m.
Swaim was accused of killing Stephen Smith of Cashmere in 1982, but the case "went cold" for the last 35 years until Smith's daughter Crystal convinced the Chelan County Sheriff's Office and Chelan County Prosecuting Attorney Doug Shae to reopen the investigation and bring charges against Swaim and his former wife Dawn Soles of Leavenworth.
Soles turned into the state's "star witness," but to no avail as her in-court testimony, tape recorded and written statements were peppered with contradictions. Even she admitted to the falsehoods, identified by some as "untruths."
A harsher words was used about her - liar.
Apparently that last word was the term that stuck with the jury as witness after witness either called Soles unreliable when it came to the truth or said outright that she has lied on many occasions and can't be believed.
The trial started with jury selection on Tuesday, August 29 and lasted six days because of the Labor Day holiday, but throughout the five days of actual testimony, Defense Attorney Nick Yedinak hammered at the contradictions inherent in the Soles tape recorded, written and spoken record that would ultimately lead to the not guilty verdict.
No matter what Swaim may have done, said, not done or did, the instructions to the jury were clear: A unanimous decision was required to convict Swaim and those 12 decisions had to be "beyond a reasonable doubt" as to his guilt - or innocence.
The latter choice won the day.
For the rest of the story, make sure you read the Cashmere Valley Record and/or the Leavenworth Echo next Wednesday, Sept. 13.
Gary Bégin can be reached at gary@ncwmedia.net.