Here’s a link to my full story today on suspected serial killer Joseph Duncan’s guilty plea to the 10 federal charges against him, and what’s next. Instead of facing a federal trial on the 10 felony counts on Jan. 28, that date now will mark the start of a penalty proceeding, in which a federal jury will be impaneled and hold hearings on whether or not Duncan should get the death penalty. Three of the federal crimes to which he admitted carry a possible death sentence. In some ways, that proceeding will be like a trial – just shorter, likely taking weeks rather than months. There’ll be witnesses, exhibits and so forth. Duncan’s lone surviving victim, young Shasta Groene, may have to testify against him/Betsy Russell, Eye On Boise. Full post here.

Question: Can one of you attorney blurkers explain to this Huckleberry Hound why Duncan wasn't allowed to admit his guilt from the start, as he said he wanted to do?

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