State v. McDonnell

In 1984, defendant was indicted for the aggravated murder of Joey Keever. Before trial in 1988, defendant sought to enforce an agreement of the district attorney to accept a plea of guilty to that charge. A written stipulation in support of the motion to compel performance provided that the state “would accept a plea * * * and decline to present any evidence” on sentencing “if the parents of the alleged victim would agree to such a resolution of this case.” The parents did not agree. Without explanation, the trial court denied defendant’s motion to compel performance of the agreement…