Sarah Crane Murdoch (Reporter)

So that's a plea bargain, right?

So that's a plea bargain, right?

Okay. A plea bargain. Carissa is caught off guard. She thought she'd made it clear to Lopaka that they wanted a trial. Lopaka says he is ready to go to trial. But he also wants to offer a plea because anything can happen at a trial. They could lose the whole thing on one jury member. And even if they did win, Sonny would likely file an appeal.

Okay. A plea bargain. Carissa is caught off guard. She thought she'd made it clear to Lopaka that they wanted a trial. Lopaka says he is ready to go to trial. But he also wants to offer a plea because anything can happen at a trial. They could lose the whole thing on one jury member. And even if they did win, Sonny would likely file an appeal.

Okay. A plea bargain. Carissa is caught off guard. She thought she'd made it clear to Lopaka that they wanted a trial. Lopaka says he is ready to go to trial. But he also wants to offer a plea because anything can happen at a trial. They could lose the whole thing on one jury member. And even if they did win, Sonny would likely file an appeal.

It could take years to work its way through the courts. Lopaka is in this dance with the family. He doesn't have to do what the family says, but he has an incentive to get them on his side. Because if the family doesn't want a plea bargain, the judge could reject it. So Lopaka keeps pressuring them to consider a plea deal. But then he also keeps trying to make it seem like he's not.

It could take years to work its way through the courts. Lopaka is in this dance with the family. He doesn't have to do what the family says, but he has an incentive to get them on his side. Because if the family doesn't want a plea bargain, the judge could reject it. So Lopaka keeps pressuring them to consider a plea deal. But then he also keeps trying to make it seem like he's not.

It could take years to work its way through the courts. Lopaka is in this dance with the family. He doesn't have to do what the family says, but he has an incentive to get them on his side. Because if the family doesn't want a plea bargain, the judge could reject it. So Lopaka keeps pressuring them to consider a plea deal. But then he also keeps trying to make it seem like he's not.

The state prosecutor, Thorne Geist, says he'd like to make a plea offer tomorrow. He needs them to think about numbers. If Sonny pleads guilty to the first two counts, vehicular homicide and leaving the scene, that gives them up to 40 years in prison. But she wouldn't serve all of the years she's sentenced to. They'd have to offer to suspend some of that time.

The state prosecutor, Thorne Geist, says he'd like to make a plea offer tomorrow. He needs them to think about numbers. If Sonny pleads guilty to the first two counts, vehicular homicide and leaving the scene, that gives them up to 40 years in prison. But she wouldn't serve all of the years she's sentenced to. They'd have to offer to suspend some of that time.

The state prosecutor, Thorne Geist, says he'd like to make a plea offer tomorrow. He needs them to think about numbers. If Sonny pleads guilty to the first two counts, vehicular homicide and leaving the scene, that gives them up to 40 years in prison. But she wouldn't serve all of the years she's sentenced to. They'd have to offer to suspend some of that time.

Kevin told me his strategy at this point was to offer Sunny an unrealistic deal, so trial would be her only option. Lopaka turns to Carissa.

Kevin told me his strategy at this point was to offer Sunny an unrealistic deal, so trial would be her only option. Lopaka turns to Carissa.

Kevin told me his strategy at this point was to offer Sunny an unrealistic deal, so trial would be her only option. Lopaka turns to Carissa.

And then sooner we'll, yeah. Up until this meeting, Kevin and Carissa had presented a united front, even when they disagreed. But this question of whether to keep pushing for trial or to sign off on a plea deal revealed a fracture between them. They didn't discuss it anymore on the way home. Kevin wanted a trial. Carissa understood.

And then sooner we'll, yeah. Up until this meeting, Kevin and Carissa had presented a united front, even when they disagreed. But this question of whether to keep pushing for trial or to sign off on a plea deal revealed a fracture between them. They didn't discuss it anymore on the way home. Kevin wanted a trial. Carissa understood.

And then sooner we'll, yeah. Up until this meeting, Kevin and Carissa had presented a united front, even when they disagreed. But this question of whether to keep pushing for trial or to sign off on a plea deal revealed a fracture between them. They didn't discuss it anymore on the way home. Kevin wanted a trial. Carissa understood.

But she also understood that prosecutors were going to offer a plea no matter what. She felt caught between aligning with her husband and showing willingness to work with the state so they didn't cut her out. She didn't want to lose what little control she had. So when LaPaka called her a few days later to ask for a number, she told him 40 years with 20 suspended.

But she also understood that prosecutors were going to offer a plea no matter what. She felt caught between aligning with her husband and showing willingness to work with the state so they didn't cut her out. She didn't want to lose what little control she had. So when LaPaka called her a few days later to ask for a number, she told him 40 years with 20 suspended.

But she also understood that prosecutors were going to offer a plea no matter what. She felt caught between aligning with her husband and showing willingness to work with the state so they didn't cut her out. She didn't want to lose what little control she had. So when LaPaka called her a few days later to ask for a number, she told him 40 years with 20 suspended.