[Vision2020] Plea Bargan in Duncan Case?

[Tom Hansen]

>From today's (October 16, 2006) Spokesman Review -

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Plea bargain in Duncan case?
Jury selection canceled, fueling speculation that deal reached

By Taryn Brodwater
Staff writer

October 15, 2006

Jury selection in the triple-murder trial of Joseph Edward Duncan has been
canceled, fueling speculation that a plea deal has been reached with
Kootenai County prosecutors.

Kootenai County Sheriff’s Capt. Ben Wolfinger issued a brief statement late
Sunday, saying that instead of jury selection, a 9 a.m. hearing will be held
today in front of District Judge Fred Gibler.

“There is a hearing. 
 I’m not allowed to talk about it,” said Lee McKenzie
Wood, mother of victim Mark McKenzie, who was killed along with two other
people at Wolf Lodge Bay. Last week, McKenzie Wood said she opposed any
deal. “This man does not deserve to live. He needs to be put away.” 

Reports of a plea deal also surfaced on Fox News late Sunday, but it offered
no attribution or details. On Friday, Public Defender John Adams indicated
at a court hearing Friday that plea negotiations were ongoing.

Neither Adams nor Prosecutor Bill Douglas could be reached for comment late
Sunday.

Douglas has previously rejected a plea offer Duncan made on Oct. 4.

Duncan had offered to plead guilty to four murders, kidnapping and other
crimes in exchange for life in prison with no chance of parole. Even if
Douglas had accepted the deal, Duncan acknowledged he would still face the
federal death penalty.

Duncan also offered to help investigators open his encrypted computer files
and view pictures and videos that may be related to the case.

That previous offer would have kept 9-year-old Shasta Groene from having to
testify, federal Public Defender Roger Peven said last week.

Duncan is accused of the May 2005 murders of Brenda Matthews Groene, her
13-year-old son, Slade, and Matthews Groene’s fiancé, McKenzie, at their
home near Wolf Lodge Bay east of Coeur d’Alene.

Under the deal, he also would have admitted kidnapping young Dylan and
Shasta Groene from the crime scene and to crimes he committed against the
children, including murdering Dylan. 

Duncan hasn’t been charged with those crimes, but federal prosecutors have
said they intend to seek the death penalty.

Although Duncan asked Douglas not to seek the death penalty and to agree to
the life sentence, Duncan also would have pleaded guilty in a federal death
penalty case, Peven said last week. The case could then proceed to the
sentencing hearing, he said.

Two of Kootenai County’s three county commissioners have urged Douglas to
settle the case. Not only is the trial expected to cost the county $1
million or more, but Commissioners Rick Currie and Katie Brodie have said
they are concerned about the effect on Shasta.

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Seeya round town, Moscow.

Tom Hansen
Vandalville, Idaho

"Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving
safely in an attractive and well preserved body, but rather to skid in
sideways, chocolate in one hand, a drink in the other, body thoroughly used
up, totally worn out and screaming 'WOO HOO. What a ride!'"