Ida. v. Joseph Duncan: Settlement offer - Ida. v. Joseph Edward Duncan III

PHOTO GALLERIES

Case in pictures

ANATOMY OF A PLEA DEAL

Defense's Offer
Joseph Duncan's lawyer offered in this letter to prosecutors that his client would admit to murder and molestation if the death penalty was taken off the table. The offer was rejected.
State's Counter-Offer
Prosecutors came back with a list of demands Duncan was to meet if he wanted to avoid trial, including facing the death penalty and not calling Shasta Groene to testify.
Plea Deal Announcment
Prosecutors announced a plea deal with Joseph Edward Duncan III on Oct. 16, 2006, the same day jury selection was slated to begin in his murder trial.
Factual Basis
Prosecutors submitted this vivid list of facts in the case to serve as a factual basis for Duncan's guilty plea.

SHASTA GROENE FAMILY TRAGEDY
•Oct. 16, 2006:
Plea deal announced
•Oct. 16, 2006:
Jury selection canceled
•Oct. 12, 2006:
Shasta Groene deemed competent to testify
•Oct. 6, 2006:
Victims' father sues Joseph Duncan to prevent him from profiting off murders
•Oct. 3, 2006:
Prosecutors to seek death penalty

Updated Oct. 16, 2006, 5:05 p.m. ET

Ida. v. Joseph Duncan: Settlement offer

A lawyer for convicted sex offender and accused triple-murderer Joseph Duncan said in this letter that Duncan would admit to killing an Idaho family and molesting two children in exchange for life without parole. Kootenai County Prosecuting Attorney William Douglas, who is seeking the death penalty, initially rejected the offer.