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Miura lawyers shocked over his death
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Posted on Oct 12 2008
Kazuyoshi Miura’s lawyers on Saipan—William Fitzgerald, Bruce Berline and Mark Hanson—were shocked and saddened upon learning Saturday night Miura’s reported suicide in his cell in Los Angeles.
In an interview with Saipan Tribune late Saturday night, Fitzgerald said they don’t understand why it happened because the 61-year-old Miura was not depressed and was very upbeat about the case.
“We’re in a state of disbelief!” said Fitzgerald, who was the one who argued most during Miura’s petition for a writ of habeas corpus, as well as in the appeal.
The veteran lawyer said it was Berline who called him early Saturday evening to inform him about what had happened in L.A.
Fitzgerald said Miura’s lawyer in L.A., attorney Mark Geragos, had called Berline about the apparent suicide and they talked about what happened.
“Then we’re getting calls from Japan telling us what happened,” Fitzgerald said. “There’s nothing we can do until we find out what happened tomorrow [Sunday].”
Asked if they are going to L.A. or Japan, Fitzgerald said they don’t know what their next step would be until they get more information.
A DOC official told Saipan Tribune Saturday night that Miura’s death was very shocking to them.
“He’s been here for seven months under our control, but he’s okay. He had no problem with anything with the officers,” said the official, who requested not to be identified.
Assistant Attorney General Jeffery Warfield Sr. told Saipan Tribune Saturday night that Miura’s death is truly a tragedy.
“We’re surprised to hear it and it’s never been good to get that kind of news,” said Warfield, who handled the extradition case against Miura.
It was Warfield who joined four LAPD detectives and other local law enforcement officers early Friday morning in escorting the Japanese businessman from the Department of Corrections in Susupe to the Continental Airlines plane that would bring him to Guam, the first leg of his journey to Southern California.
Miura arrived at LA International Airport on Friday (LA time). Less than 24 hours later, he was reportedly found hanging in his cell.
