I would think the ONLY way CD would accept a plea is IF the plea states the death penalty would be removed. Otherwise, he faces the same penalty as he would without the plea... doesn't he?
However, I could be very wrong about this. (I'm mostly thinking aloud
)
ETA: But, I guess he "could" accept a plea just to save what little is left of his "face"
Yeah, a plea gives him the opportunity to say whatever he wants after adjudication without being cross examined.
I don't think prosecutors or victims want him to be a successful martyr preaching from prison, rating the other inmates, doing their "histories," while his coterie thinks he was misunderstood and wrongly convicted and "so humble," to just go on helping others in jail without bitterness.
(Insert vomit emoji here.)
That is why I'm thinking the prosecution might have no interest in even talking about any plea deal unless it included a detailed confession that he cant later claim he just gave because it was part of some divine plan for him, so he could accept his fate like saviors have before him.
(Insert several vomit emojis here.)
Chad's latest defense against the death penalty was he wasn't a principal murderer, which is simultaneously laughable and an insult to the intelligence of the prosecution. That would have made me emotionally more invested in prosecution if it were me, although I know I'd have to put that aside and consider the consequences for the State in negotiating a plea deal vs. insisting on going to trial.
Chad has little to offer the State now, as Lori's prosecution is complete and a great deal of resources have already been poured into Chad's trial. It is undoubtedly infuriating that the most expensive thing, severing the trials, was done because the defense needed time to retest evidence which they chose not test after all. It would feel to the prosecution that they were mnipulated into making this more expensiv, then "offered" something to take back the expense the defense created. I could envision that reducing will to "save."
The outstanding crimes for which Lori is going to trial did not occur in Idaho. So he can't offer useful testimony at this point for Idaho, such as witness testimony for the trial regarding the murder and attempted murder of Charles and Brandon. Chad can no longer testify against Lori to the prosecutorial benefit of Idaho (although victims don't care about jurisdictions).
MOO