Prosecutors reply to Duncan motion
Kootenai County prosecutors filed a reply to Joseph Duncan’s attorney late Thursday afternoon to keep the death penalty on the table in the homicide suspect’s case.
Duncan is accused of killing three members of a North Idaho family and will stand trial in October.
Prosecutors do not have to list reasons why they are seeking the death penalty in criminal information, Prosecutor Bill Douglas said in response to Public Defender John Adams’ motion to strike the state’s notice of intent to seek the death penalty.
Adams argued that “aggravating factors” were not alleged, and said by not stating the factors the prosecution had violated his client’s civil rights.
But Idaho law has no requirement that aggravating factors be given in criminal information other than in the actual notice of intent to seek the death penalty. The motions will be argued in front of 1st District Judge Fred Gibler on Tuesday and Wednesday. Duncan will not be present, according to Kootenai County Sheriff’s Department officials.
– Sam Taylor
Boise
Man ordered to give SSN
The Idaho Court of Appeals ruled Thursday that a Bonner County man must give his Social Security number when renewing his driver’s license, even though the ruling does “substantially burden his free exercise of religion.”
Lawrence D. Lewis acknowledged to the court that he was issued a Social Security number in 1963, but said he had stopped using it because he believes the identifier issued to him by the federal government “is either the precursor to, or actually is, the biblical ‘mark of the beast,’ ” the court said. Court records state that Lewis had been denied renewal of his driver’s license by the state because he refused to give the number.
– Sam Taylor
Worley
Soiree will have Wild West theme
This weekend’s Second Annual Northwest Soiree will transport people back to the Wild West, organizers say.
The soiree, at the Coeur d’Alene Casino, will have Old West collectibles, historic firearms, antiques, arts and crafts, and food for sale.
Tickets cost $6 each day or $10 for the weekend. The show runs from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday. For more information, contact Coeur d’Alene Casino spokesman Bob Bostwick at (800) 523-2464, Ext. 7261 or Kristi Wilson at (406) 834-3603.
– Sam Taylor