Spokane7
65°
February 22, 2011 in News, Region
Duncan may offer plea deal in California case
INDIO, Ca. - Already sentenced to death for killing an Idaho boy, a man accused in the 1997 slaying of 10-year-old Anthony Martinez of Beaumont, Ca., offered a settlement Tuesday that could draw the case to a close without going to trial.
Attorneys for Joseph Edward Duncan III said they were prepared to sumbit an offer to the Riverside County district attorney, spurred by his decision to review all capital cases in the county. They spoke at a brief hearing Tuesday morning in an Indio courtroom.
The defense attorneys declined to go into detail about the offer. Prosecutors would not comment.
If Duncan pleads guilty, it may end his tumultuous two-year stay in Riverside County and finally bring closure in Anthony’s case, 14 years after his death.
Duncan, 47, has been uncooperative until recently, following extensive delays and questions about his competency and attorneys. The case has long been a balancing act between justice for Anthony’s family and the strain on county resources.
Anthony was abducted outside his Beaumont home in April 1997 by a man who first asked a group of boys for help looking for his lost cat, then forced Anthony into his car at knifepoint. His body was found 15 days later, bound in duct tape, north of Indio near Joshua Tree National Park. He had been molested and beaten to death.
Duncan received three death sentences and nine life terms for the brutal kidnapping and murder of an Idaho family in 2005. After he was arrested in that case, he confessed to killing Anthony, according to investigators in Idaho.
For more on this story, visit The Press-Enterprise.
Recent stories in News
1992 murder trial begins against sex offender May 30, 2012
- Supermajority for taxes unconstitutional, judge rules May 30, 2012 6
- Man dies following early Saturday car crash May 30, 2012 11
- Sex trafficking suspects released as probe continues May 29, 2012 7
- Center’s activities provide glimpse into network of advocacy groups May 28, 2012 4
liberal_in_right_wing_land on February 22 at 3:52 p.m.
Wow, what does it take for this evil man to be put to death like he deserves. Whats the point of the death penalty if people like this, Robert Yates and Gary Ridgeway can all escape it despite being some of the most notorious killers in this area and country?
hawken on February 22 at 4:28 p.m.
Liberal,,,, I agree with you. But, I thought you were against the death penalty? Am I mistaken?
liberal_in_right_wing_land on February 22 at 5:58 p.m.
Oh no, I am 110% for the death penalty. Might not sit well with some other liberals, but I think if you kill someone you deserve to die…..and I would even take it farther to include child rapists and molesters.
hawken on February 22 at 7:48 p.m.
Thanks for the clarification.
craigsinger on February 22 at 10:25 p.m.
Why is this man still breathing? What is wrong with our system?
nslopeofw on February 22 at 10:59 p.m.
As far as i’m concerned, Steve Groene and Anthony’s parents should be allowed to skin this POS alive, slowly. Take days to complete his skinning/death. There is NO reason why Duncan should be allowed to live. I’d like to hear an anti-death penalty individual explain why he shouldn’t die slowly and painfully. After reading the court transcripts of what he did in ID., I cant imagine anyone believing in anything less than a brutal death for Duncan.
Justsayin' on February 23 at 6:37 a.m.
According to some, if we put Duncan to death, we are the same as he is. I don’t follow that line of thinking, but there it is.
Gary Garrison
lewis8457 on February 23 at 7:07 a.m.
He should have been hung in 2 years ago in Idaho how many trials do we need to know the man is evil. Pretty much shows there is something wrong with our justice system.
Orange on February 23 at 7:32 a.m.
hawken brings up a good point. We all know this guy needs to be put down like a dog. What’s funny is seeing the so called “liberal democrats” coming forward chanting “die die die”.
I suppose we all have some measure of hypocrisy in our veins.
bszottlinger on February 23 at 10:15 a.m.
I have always been conflicted about capital punishment, not necessarily from a moralistic stand point, rather whether taking the life of someone who is guilty of egregiously taking the life of another represents the punishment they deserve. I’ve always wondered whether it is better to absorb the costs associated with the appeal process or let the individual rot in prison. The problem is individuals like Duncan don’t rot in prison any more and I believe he relish’s all the attention he gets. Murders adapt to prison life and the fact that they may at some point be put to death. I’d applaud any liberal or conservative who could come up with some method by which people like Duncan would live the rest of their life in misery beyond that which they have caused the families of the people they killed. I also have a problem with putting to death innocent people, which unfortunately we have done in the past, and have come close to doing, on several occasions.
BTW Orange we don’t put people down like dogs, we make it quick and easy on them.