Oregon Public Broadcasting

The opening day of the trial of two men accused of the Woodburn bank bombing took a surprise turn. 

Attorneys for each man accused the other defendant of carrying out the plot. 

Bruce Turnidge and his son Joshua stand accused of a long list of charges, including the aggravated murder of two lawmen who died when a homemade bomb went off in December 2008.

Joshua Turnidge’s defense team says it will show that Bruce Turnidge designed, built, and planted the bomb, and that their client didn’t even know of the blast until after it happened.

Attorneys for Bruce Turnidge claim it was Joshua Turnidge who came up with and executed the plan.

Steven Krasik is the leading attorney representing Joshua Turnidge.  He warned jurors to listen carefully.

Steve Krasik  “You’ll find some links of the chain of circumstantial evidence, which is perfectly fine, do not exist. Do not make up your minds until you hear the witnesses testify.”

Prosecutors say they’ll present a substantial body of evidence to link the Turnidges to the incident, and to show they had anti-government leanings and intent to kill police.

The trial is expected to last around twelve weeks.

Prosecutors intend to seek the death penalty, if the defendants are found guilty.