Suspect in Kirkland father’s murder pleads not guilty

He faces charges of first-degree murder and attempted murder.

The suspect in the murder of a Kirkland father of three pleaded not guilty to murder and attempted murder charges on June 19 in King County Superior Court, according to court documents.

Saif Raad Al-Obaidi faces one count of murder in the first degree and attempted murder in the first degree. He is accused of stabbing Darwin Garcia Franco, a Kirkland contractor, 30 times after breaking into his home in the dark morning hours of May 31.

Garcia Franco died at the scene, in the 12900 block of 131st Avenue Northeast, after emergency responders attempted to save his life.

Al-Obaidi is also accused of stabbing a 50-year-old mother of three, 18 times, after she tried to intervene in the suspect’s attack on Garcia Franco. The woman had been living with Garcia Franco, staying in the basement level of the shared home.

Bail was reserved for Al-Obaidi and a case setting date of July 3 planned.