Opinion ID: 2829984
Heading Depth: 4
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: The Berger and Muraoka Stipulations

Text: The trial court thereafter proposed a stipulation that stated: ―The information in this case was filed in the Superior Court of Alameda County on June 19th of 1997. At that time, California law provided that the defendant had a statutory right to demand a trial on the charges contained in the information within 60 days of June 19th, 1997, or on or before August 18th of 1997. ―The defendant entered a general time waiver waiving his right to a trial within 60 days of June 19th, 1997. ―The defendant withdrew that general time waiver on March 3d of the year 2000. This required that the trial in this case commence on or before May 2d of the year 2000. ―Deputy District Attorney Angela Backers was first assigned this case on or about December 28th of 1997. ―Mr. Michael Ciraolo and Ms. Deborah Levy became attorneys of record for the defendant on or about December 11th of 1998. ―There has been ongoing discovery and the providing of information on the guilt and possible penalty phases of this case by Ms. Backers to Mr. Ciraolo and Ms. Levy since December 11th of 1998. 32 ―Mr. Michael Berger, who is the attorney sitting over there, has represented Mr. Tony Iuli in this matter from on or about May 27th of 1996. ―During the year 1999, Mr. Berger approached Ms. Backers on at least three occasions regarding a possible plea agreement which would involve Mr. Iuli being allowed to plead to a lesser offense in consideration for Mr. Iuli providing testimony in this trial. ―Mr. Iuli entered such a plea agreement on April 26th of the year 2000.‖ Defendant‘s attorney, Ciraolo, expressly agreed to this stipulation, which was read to the jury. Later, the trial court proposed two additional stipulations covering the circumstances of Palega‘s plea. The first one provided: ―On May 5th of the year 2000, during an interview with Ms. Backers, defendant Tony Iuli wrote a letter to defendant Jay Palega. The letter was reviewed by Ms. Backers and Mr. Iuli‘s attorney, Mr. Michael Berger. Mr. Berger placed a phone call to Mr. Muraoka to inform him about the letter. Mr. Muraoka came to the courtroom to pick up the letter. At that time, Ms. Backers informed Mr. Muraoka that the same plea agreement offered and accepted by Mr. Iuli was now being offered to Mr. Palega. Mr. Palega accepted the offer and entered into the plea agreement by pleading guilty on May 15th of the year 2000.‖ The second Muraoka stipulation provided: ―If called to testify, Mr. William Muraoka, an assistant public defender in Alameda County, would testify that on or about May 15th of the year 2000 he had a conversation with Ms. Backers regarding the plea agreement entered into by his client. Ms. Backers indicated to Mr. Muraoka that based on her evaluation of the evidence as the deputy district attorney assigned to this case, that while she believed all four defendants were legally guilty of the murder, her review and evaluation of the evidence led her to believe it was appropriate for her to exercise her discretion as 33 the prosecutor of the case, to enter into the plea agreements which have been stated on the record.‖ Defendant‘s attorney expressly agreed to both Muraoka stipulations, which were read to the jury.