MI murder suspects’ omnibus hearings continued to September
Published 2:30 pm Tuesday, July 21, 2026
The King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office notes that it’s typical for multiple hearings continuances to occur before a trial.
In the case of the two defendants who pleaded not guilty to charges of the first-degree murder of a Mercer Island man in 2024, they’ve had their omnibus pre-trial hearings continued about a dozen times.
Island resident Curtis Engeland’s body was recovered in the Grays Harbor County city of Cosmopolis on March 7, 2024, and suspects Christina Hardy and Philip Brewer had their July 16 hearings in King County Superior Court in Seattle continued to Sept. 17. Their trial is currently scheduled for Nov. 5.
During the omnibus hearings, the court establishes defense and prosecutors’ readiness for trial based on discovery, witness interviews and more, according to the prosecuting attorney’s office.
Both defendants remain in custody at the King County Correctional Facility in downtown Seattle. After they gave their pleas at their arraignments on May 6 and April 16, respectively, in 2024, they were held on $5 million bail each.
According to a previous Reporter story, prosecuting attorney Leesa Manion charged the defendants with first-degree murder, first-degree kidnapping, first-degree identify theft and first-degree theft charges. Court documents state that Engeland, 74, was killed on or about Feb. 24, 2024.
Brewer attended his July 16 omnibus hearing while Hardy was not present. Both of their defense attorneys motioned for trial continuances, which the court granted.
The reasons for Brewer’s continuance was significant outstanding investigation remaining and parties are completing interviews, reads court documents. For Hardy, there is continued investigation and negotiation and a severance motion set for Aug. 6, documents state.
A victim advocate from the prosecuting attorney’s office has had conversations with the family’s point of contact about the case, a past Reporter story reads, adding that no family statement has been issued about the case.
