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 On Monday, December 3, in a federal courthouse in Boise, Idaho, Joseph Duncan pleaded guilty to 10 counts of a federal indictment against him for kidnapping and molesting Dylan and Shasta Groene and killing Dylan back in 2005. Three of the charges are capital offenses and carry the death penalty. The charges include:
Kidnapping resulting in death (capital offense) Kidnapping Aggravated sexual abuse of a minor Aggravated sexual abuse of a minor Sexual exploitation of a child resulting in death (capital offense) Felon in possession of a firearm Using a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence resulting in death (capital offense) Transportation of a stolen firearm Possession of an unregistered firearm Transportation of a stolen vehicle
On January 28, 2008, Duncan will be back in U.S. District Court; but instead of that being his trial date, it will now be his sentencing date. He will be sentenced for the three most serious charges against him, and a federal jury will determine whether or not Duncan will receive the death penalty for his crimes.
One question remaining is whether Shasta Groene will have to testify against Duncan during the penalty proceedings.
Regarding his admission of guilt, Duncan read the following statement in court:
"I just want to say that since my arrest that I have never attempted to deny responsibility or to conceal anything that I have done concerning these charges. And so my plea today is not a confession in the sense that I have not already confessed a long time ago. It is instead merely an affirmation of the responsibility that I accepted when I brought the child S.G. home and allowed myself to be arrested. I will continue to accept that responsibility to the death, if necessary. My plea today is to me little more than a long overdue formality and it changes nothing."
Are you surprised Duncan changed his plea? Do you think it's because he's remorseful or do you think he'll benefit in some way? Do you think Duncan will gain sympathy from the jury during his sentencing because he pled guilty? How do you think Shasta and Steve Groene reacted to this news? Do you think Shasta Groene will still have to testify against Duncan during the penalty hearing?
We'd like to know your thoughts and comments on this topic, so email us and we'll post them on Spokane.net. If you don't have time to write, then feel free to vote in our PulsePoll.
From the Editor
Editor@Spokane.net
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Poll Results ...
Question:
"Do you think Joseph Duncan will be sentenced to death for his crimes against the Groene children?"
Results:
Yes -- 75.0%
No -- 18.8%
Undecided -- 6.3%
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