LA court rules Miura cannot be tried for murder

Saturday 27th September, 06:37 AM JST

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15 Comments

YangYong at 08:34 AM JST - 27th September

Let trial commence.
btanimoto at 09:13 AM JST - 27th September

This has got to be one of the more bizarre murder cases in modern times. The double jeopardy law shouldn't apply to cases that cross international borders anyway, and the law was apparently overturned here in California, but too late to use against Miura. Here's the L.A. Times link:

http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-miura27-2008sep27,0,7109983.story

Geez, if I'd known the hearing was happening at the Torrance courthouse near where I live, I would have gone down there to check it out!

Seems like they're calling Miura the "Japanese O.J." because they both know how to get away with murder. O.J. has his own problems in court right now for armed robbery, trying to get his own memorabilia by force from a hotel room.

These guys just can't seem to stay out of the limelight or know the meaning of "lying low". O.J. openly seeks publicity here in the States, so you know he's got pretty thick skin, or more likely, a massive ego. And Miura got caught in Saipan because he wrote about it in his blog, didn't he?
kjunluc2 at 10:34 AM JST - 27th September

****Miura will probably end up like PM Tanaka; dead before he gets to final court. I don't care for the dude but I'm not sure he did it; although I think he's capable of murder. I don't think he has the guts to get himself shot as a cover-up. I would think that would expel a very loud "Itai!"
bobcatfish at 11:57 AM JST - 27th September

so now anyone who has been found not guilty of a crime can be retried on conspiracy to commit the crime? didn't get him on first degree murder, so we will try again on second degree murder? you can't do it. america is eroding trust in its own legal system. japan made a stupid legal decision but america can't fix it no matter how guilty this guy may or may not be. it we be overturned.
badge123 at 01:06 PM JST - 27th September

Bad judgment as international cases shouldn't be used for cases of double jeopardy, he just created some precedence for future cases, some bozo commits murder in the US, goes to a 3rd party country, the 3rd party country acquits him, so should double jeopardy still apply? I dont think so, unless he was ever tried in the country where the crime happened, its not double jeopardy. So lets say Afghanistan ACQUITS Osama Bin Laden on all charges, everyone who saying we can't double jeopardy him? I know that's an extreme example, but thats my point, what some other country's court said, shouldn't really apply into US courts, because the person who committed the crime was NEVER tried in a US court.

At least he's still coming over, 25+ years in the slammer (if convicted) is better then letting him walk.
Molenir at 02:38 PM JST - 27th September

I sincerely hope the prosecutors are going to appeal this decision. Like others have said, international cases shouldn't be used for double jeopardy. I can't believe the judge would even consider the argument as its patently false on its face.
BBLeo at 02:50 PM JST - 27th September

Is all this some sort of 'Domino' game? Is prosecutor looking for promotion? THERE'S THE RUB: 'POLITICAL ARENA!'
unscrejects at 03:53 PM JST - 27th September

Miura was charged with conspiracy to commit murder, in Japan. That's what he spent five years in gaol for. Are these people in LA dumb, stupid or both?
NetteMarie at 04:32 PM JST - 27th September

I'm just wondering who he's been paying for all this keep him out of jail run around. He had his wife killed in another country. He should have a trial in that country.
CavemanLawyer at 05:50 PM JST - 27th September

Double jeopardy? The first things to discuss is whether a court was legitmate or had a legitimate right to try the accused. The "OBL tried in Afghanistan" example would meet neither requirement. (They have no right to try him (for the 9/11 attacks anyway) has his crimes were against the U.S., not Afghanistan).

I question whether Japan had the right to try Miura. The crime of which he was accused happened in the U.S. Should he not have been tried there? I beleive so. Therefore, double jeopardy should not apply here.

However, if the U.S. did nothing to protest that trial or get Miura extradited, then they did, in effect, recognize the Japanese court's right to try him. Did they protest? If not, that means double jeopardy applies again.

The speed to which some people jump at extra-territoral legal application is frightening. Have you any idea of what a legal mess that is advocating? I think many just like to see people swing, and probably miss the old fashioned public hanging. And you thought cavemen were primitive!

I do not know much about the details of the Miura case, but I am surprised how many think he is guilty. Could somebody fill me in as to why that is? --Cirroc
USARonin at 06:20 PM JST - 27th September

If he allegedly committed this (conspiracy) crime in America, then he should legally be tried under the laws of America and be tried in America.

For those of you unfamiliar with some of the names in American jurisdrama, Geragos is one of our legal prostitutes who I'd want to come and defend me should I finally be captured for being 100% truly guilty of absolutely doing something extremely lethal and heinous.
Blue_Tiger at 11:06 PM JST - 27th September

This is what my take on this case is: If Miura is innocent, what has he to fear form a trial? Why is he fighting so vigorously to not be extradited? If he's innocent of the charges, and cleared in a trial, could he not then turn and sue the LAPD and the LADA in civil court for wrongful defamation, and win? Why is he afraid to face trial? Innocent until proven guilty, no?

Well-said, USARonin...
presto345 at 11:41 PM JST - 27th September

This is what my take on this case is: If Miura is innocent, what has he to fear form a trial? Why is he fighting so vigorously to not be extradited? If he's innocent of the charges, and cleared in a trial, could he not then turn and sue the LAPD and the LADA in civil court for wrongful defamation, and win? Why is he afraid to face trial? Innocent until proven guilty, no?

To anyone who knows a little about the USA legal system the answer is clear. One can be convicted when innocent and one can be declared innocent when guilty.
Molenir at 01:11 AM JST - 28th September

However it rarely actually happens that way. The vast majority of the time you're only found guilty if you truly are guilty. On the other hand, even when you're guilty, you're not always found guilty.
fatloser at 10:45 AM JST - 28th September

A Japanese CONSPIRACY to PROTECT one of their own led to the murder trial in Japan. He should have been extradited to USA to enjoy the comforts and dangers of a US prison. But the Japanese value a Japanese even one who has killed a Japanese............PHEW!!!!!!!!!!