I think most of us are only two degrees away from something like that. That is, we know somebody who knows somebody who was murdered.
In my neck of the woods, Joseph Duncan, who murdered a whole family, kidnapped a brother and sister and molested them, and killed the brother, has entered a plea bargain.
Duncan is a pathetic excuse for a human being. God may forgive him; we don't have to.
The plea bargain saves him from the state death penalty on condition that he release encryption codes for his computer so they can see what else he has on there. No doubt it is gruesome. As a interstate kidnapper, he is still going to federal trial, and the death penalty is still on the table:
Details of Joseph Duncan's plea bargain agreement
10/16/2006 kgw.com
Associated Press
Details of Joseph Edward Duncan III's plea bargain agreement with Kootenai County, Idaho, prosecutors:
_Unconditional guilty pleas to three counts of first degree murder and three counts of first-degree kidnapping, which cannot be withdrawn. He will be sentenced to life without parole for the kidnappings, and cannot appeal.
_If the government fails to win the death penalty against Duncan in his federal court trial, he will be returned immediately to Kootenai County to face a death sentencing jury on the murder confessions. If he receives the federal death penalty, he will remain in federal custody until his execution.
_Duncan will provide the password or keys to his encrypted computer files to his federal public defender. The files are thought to contain details of his crimes.
_Family members of his victims can testify at sentencing proceedings without being cross-examined by defense.
_Video and audio tapes of law enforcement interviews with victim Shasta Groene, 9, may be used in the death penalty sentencing in Kootenai County if that becomes necessary.
_The agreement in no way binds the U.S. Department of Justice in its prosecution of Duncan, and any statement he makes in state cases can be used against him in any court. |
