Accomplice takes plea

By accepting the offer, Liu ensures the likelihood he may one day walk free and spares witnesses from having to testify one more time. The deal did not come easily, though.

Yesterday morning, Liu signed the plea form but added his own language about "being the agent of another," said prosecutor Steve Wagstaffe.

Judge Mark Forcum refused to accept the document unless Liu struck his amendments - a request he refused. Defense attorney Ray Buenaventura then asked for some time to reason with his client. By the afternoon, prosecutors were one step closer to closing a case that generated headlines since it began in Fall 2002. Now, only defendant Amu "Billy" Wynn remains to stand trial.

Prosecutors offered Liu a potential deal months ago in return for testimony but the Mountain View man refused to take it. A week ago, he was offered different terms and he asked for a week to consult with his family. During his time in county jail, Liu has taken up the idea of "constitutionalism," leading to his language on the plea form.

Wagstaffe said last week he hoped a verdict would come in the case of accomplice Sikai Telea because it might spur Liu to take the deal. Jurors in Telea's trial on the same charges retired to deliberate yesterday morning without a word. They remained mum all day until returning a guilty verdict at the end of the day.

Telea, Liu and Wynn were allegedly part of the robbery crew headed by confessed killer Seti Christopher Scanlan. On Oct. 11, 2002, the gang took over the Wells Fargo bank and in less than a minute, Scanlan shot Martel in the abdomen, Telea shot a co-worker in the shoulder and they escaped. Martel died hours later at Stanford Medical Center.

On Nov. 1, 2002, in Mountain View, the three men plus Semisi Umufuke robbed a Carl's Jr. restaurant and convenience store simultaneously before leading police on a high-speed shootout. The chase ended when the men's SUV, driven by Liu, crashed in East Palo Alto. Again, Liu did not fire a weapon but the prosecution claims his reckless driving into another vehicle is just as dangerous an activity.

Although Scanlan admitted shooting Martel, all involved in the robbery - even Liu who remained in the car outside - are legally culpable under California law.

Last summer, Scanlan escaped a death sentence after jurors deadlocked 9-3. He is currently serving multiple life sentences without parole in Corcoran State Prison. Umufuke pleaded no contest to a lesser handful of charges and is serving a seven-year prison term.

Michelle Durand can be reached by e-mail: michelle@smdailyjournal.com or by phone: (650) 344-5200 ext. 104. What do you think of this story? Send a letter to the editor: letters@smdailyjournal.com.