Miura finally flown out

After more than seven months in detention at the Department of Corrections, Kazuyoshi Miura was finally flown out of the CNMI early yesterday morning to face trial in California for the alleged murder of his wife 27 years ago.

Transporting the 61-year-old Miura from DOC in Susupe to the Saipan airport went smoothly, with local law enforcement agencies assisting the four Los Angeles Police Department detectives who were here to escort the Japanese businessman to California.

“I’m satisfied that it’s finally over. Now he [Miura] will deal with Los Angeles,” assistant attorney general Jeffery Warfield Sr. told the media shortly after the Continental Airlines plane carrying the businessman left for the first leg of his journey—Saipan to Guam.

Nearly 50 Japanese reporters, cameramen and crew members representing six TV stations, three newspapers and one magazine covered the event.

Some tailed the LAPD detectives led by Rick Jackson from the Hyatt Regency Saipan, where they were staying, to the Susupe prison. Other journalists were already waiting in the vicinity of the prison, while others were posted at the airport.

Jackson’s group put Miura inside a van just before 2am and a marked police car led the convoy of about eight vehicles for the 10-minute trip to the airport. Media vehicles were quick to follow the convoy.

At 2:10am Miura’s convoy arrived at the right wingside gate of the airport. As the marked police vehicle was preparing to enter the airport’s gate, the van carrying Miura was surrounded by cameramen and photographers. After a few minutes, the convoy went inside the airport’s gate.

At 3:30am, ports police officers escorted the media toward the tarmac where they had a good angle of Miura walking toward the plane. Miura was wearing a black jacket, white shirt, black slacks, and a black baseball cap.

Passengers, mostly Japanese media, were directed to first board the plane. Miura was the last to walk inside, escorted by LAPD detectives, ports officers, and immigration officers. Warfield also joined the escort. Miura boarded the plane at 4:23am.

Warfield later told the media that they’re glad that things went well and there were no incidents that night.

“We were concerned that there might be security problems, but everybody worked well together so we appreciate everybody’s cooperation,” he said.

The prosecutor said it’s been a long case—almost eight months—and that they’re finally glad that it has come to a conclusion, at least here in the CNMI.

“But again he will have his day in Los Angeles,” Warfield said. “We’re very satisfied. As we said back in February, we knew this day would come.”

Miura, 60, was convicted in Japan in 1994 of the murder of his wife, Kazumi, but the verdict was overturned by Japan’s high courts 10 years ago.

Cold-case detectives from the Los Angeles Police Department, however, believe that they have a case against Miura and worked with CNMI and Guam authorities to arrest him when he visited Saipan in February this year.

Feb. 22: Local authorities arrest Miura at Saipan International Airport after learning he is a suspect in the murder of his wife in Los Angeles 27 years ago.

Feb. 25: Miura is taken to the Superior Court for bail hearing. Associate Judge David A. Wiseman sets no bail.

Feb. 27: Wiseman orders Miura to hire his own lawyer.

March 3: Miura’s lawyers, Mark B. Hanson and Bruce Berline, assert that the detention of the businessman is illegal and that the court should immediately release him.

March 5: Superior Court Associate Judge Ramona V. Manglona rules that Miura’s arrest was lawful.

March 9: Miura retains pop star Michael Jackson’s attorney, Mark J. Geragos, as L.A. counsel.

March 12: Gov. Benigno R. Fitial signs the arrest warrant for Miura’s extradition.

March 17: Miura’s legal counsel discloses that Geragos made a double jeopardy argument in California in a motion to dismiss the case.

March 19: Manglona grants Miura’s request to give him a month to file a petition for habeas corpus in challenging the extradition case filed against him.

April 17: Miura’s defense team and the Attorney General’s Office agree to ask the court to allow a two-week extension for Miura to file his petition for habeas corpus. Manglona grants the request.

May 2: Manglona grants another extension for Miura to file a petition following the parties’ request.

May 28: Manglona allows Miura to file a motion to allow him to post bail.

June 6: Manglona resets the bail modification hearing and status conference to June 19 at the request of Miura’s lawyers.

June 19: Manglona denies Miura’s request to allow him to post bail.

July 15: Miura appeals to the CNMI Supreme Court Manglona’s decision denying his request to allow him to post bail.

Sept. 12: Manglona denies Miura’s petition for habeas corpus and orders his extradition.

Sept. 15: The CNMI Supreme Court grants Miura’s request to hold off the Superior Court’s order for his extradition, while his appeal is pending. That night four LAPD detectives arrived on Saipan supposedly to pick up Miura.

Sept. 23: The CNMI Supreme Court affirms the Superior Court’s ruling that ordered Miura’s extradition.

Sept. 24: Miura’s lawyers file an emergency motion asking the CNMI Supreme Court to stay Miura’s extradition while he pursues further proceedings in federal court.

Sept. 26: U.S. District Court for the NMI Chief Judge Alex Munson grants Miura’s emergency motion for a stay of the Superior Court’s decision that ordered his extradition.

Sept. 29: Miura withdraws his petition for a writ of habeas. Berline said California is now free to come and escort their client.

Oct. 10: LAPD detectives take Miura from DOC and escort him to California.