Posted on 04/23/2008 2:15:14 PM PDT by Domandred
More than two dozen prospective jurors were waiting to be questioned, Joseph Duncan was in court, and attorneys and the judge were assembled. But Tuesday’s jury selection proceedings were delayed after the defense objected to proceeding without a ruling on whether Duncan will serve as his own attorney in his death penalty hearings — and the government concurred.
Pending is a mental evaluation to verify Duncan’s competency.
“We believe that it would be an infringement on Mr. Duncan’s right to continue pro se (representing himself) if we were to continue questioning of jurors,” defense attorney Mark Larranaga told the court. “We wouldn’t know what type of questions to ask.”
Duncan faces a possible death penalty for the 2005 kidnapping of two North Idaho children, Shasta and Dylan Groene, repeatedly molesting them, and killing 9-year-old Dylan. He has pleaded guilty to murdering three other members of their family at their Wolf Lodge Bay home. In the federal case involving the children he’s pleaded guilty to all charges and awaits sentencing.
The judge ruled Monday that Duncan can represent himself if a mental evaluation confirms he is competent.
>>>SNIP fast forward to kicker paragraph<<<<
If Duncan acts as his own attorney and Shasta Groene testifies against him, that would put the girl in a position of being cross-examined by the man who molested her and killed her brother as she watched.
(Excerpt) Read more at idahostatesman.com ...
For those not aware Duncan has plead guilty to all charges. This is his sentencing trial do determine if Idaho will give him death (probably lethal injection) or life in prison.
Duncan has asked to represent himself and looks like he will be able to pending psych eval. Now in some more liberal States a psych eval would also give him an out on death and get life in prison. I don't think Idaho is going to play that game with this guy. Straight to the incinerator for him I say.
This guy is truly a monster. I live in Spokompton, and this got a lot of press when it went down a couple years ago. Before they kill him, they have to extract what other victims are out there, especially in Kalifornia....
Sorry Cali you can have info, but you can't have him. Don't want you guys letting him off the hook for some PC mental crap.
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