Joseph Duncan

If suspected killer Joseph Duncan gets his triple-homicide trial postponed, it could be a double-edged sword for his legal team. The extension would give Duncan's lawyers more time to prepare a defense, but it also could give prosecutors an opportunity to bolster their case against the sex offender sitting in a Kootenai County jail cell.

Prosecutors are asking 1st District Judge Fred Gibler to consider the impact another delay in the trial of Joseph Edward Duncan III might have on Shasta Groene. Shasta, 9, is expected to testify against Duncan, who has been charged with killing her 13-year-old brother, her mother and her mother's boyfriend. Duncan allegedly kidnapped Shasta and her 9-year-old brother, Dylan, and held the children for weeks at a remote Montana campground. That's where authorities later found Dylan's remains. Federal charges for the kidnappings and Dylan's death are expected to follow the state's triple-homicide trial.

BOISE – The state Senate on Monday unanimously passed two bills meant to stiffen penalties against sex offenders after several high-profile crimes against children in Idaho in 2005 prompted cries for tougher laws. In a 34-0 vote, lawmakers supported a plan to boost minimum prison terms for repeat sex offenders to 15 years and to boost the minimum sentence for repeat violent sex offenders to life in prison.

Joseph Duncan's attorneys are fighting to use the insanity defense in his upcoming triple-murder trial. But in a recent letter believed to be from the suspect, Duncan apparently says he's "not crazy." The Jan. 30 letter was sent to a coordinator of a Washington state initiative to send first-time sex offenders to prison for life. The handwriting and signature appear to match the writing on letters Duncan sent to The Spokesman-Review last fall.

BOISE – Four bills aimed at toughening sex offender laws in Idaho were unanimously approved for introduction by a House committee Wednesday, including one to require electronic monitoring and lifetime parole for violent sexual predators. Sponsored by Rep. Jim Clark, R-Hayden Lake, the bill also changes the requirement for regular address confirmation for designated VSPs to every 30 days instead of 90.

Kootenai County Public Defender John Adams says he needs more time to prepare a defense for homicide suspect Joseph Duncan. Adams asked Wednesday that Duncan's triple-murder trial be rescheduled no sooner than mid-November. First District Judge Fred Gibler already granted a four-month extension on the original January trial date. He will consider the new motion Feb. 23.

Joseph Duncan has sent more than 60 letters from jail to people including relatives, a former neighbor and a doctor who once told a parole board he thought Duncan wasn't a threat to society. Mail logs from the Kootenai County Jail show Duncan has received more than 100 letters from his mother, brother, the neighbor and others – including evangelists Billy and Franklin Graham and the media.

Kootenai County Prosecutor Bill Douglas is using the trial of the man who murdered an Idaho State Police trooper to support his argument that an outside jury isn't needed to guarantee accused killer Joseph Duncan receives a fair trial. Public defender John Adams said in a motion last week that he doesn't think Duncan can get a fair trial in the county. He asked for jurors to be brought in from elsewhere.