Washington v. Bellingham Municipal Court

The defendant, Becky Ellen Charles, was tried on December 5, 1978, in Bellingham Municipal Court on charges of negligent driving and hit-and-run of an occupied vehicle. A jury found her not guilty of the negligent driving charge, but did not reach a verdict on the hit-and-run charge. When the City refiled the hit-and-run charge, the defendant moved to dismiss the charge on the grounds of double jeopardy. The municipal court denied defendants motion, and she petitioned the Superior Court for a writ of prohibition to enjoin the City from retrying her on the second offense. She appeals from the dismissal of her petition.