State v. Birrueta

Jesus Gonzalez Birrueta was drinking in a bar in Marsing, Idaho on the evening of August 18, 1975. He had been drinking heavily all day. At about 1:00 a. m. he left the bar and walked out into the parking lot where he got into an argument, pulled out a pistol and shot and killed two men. He was arrested for murder and counsel was appointed.

Birrueta was given a preliminary hearing and bound over to district court. Upon arraignment in district court, the charge was reduced to second degree murder as the result of plea negotiations. Birrueta indicated an intention to plead guilty to the reduced…