The chief justice’s decision came hours before a team of agents from the Los Angeles Police Department could pick up Miura and three days after Superior Court Associate Judge Ramona V. Manglona denied Miura’s petition for a writ of habeas corpus and ordered his extradition.
Attorney General Matthew Gregory told Japanese and local media covering the case that four LAPD agents — Eri Poss, Richard Bengtson, Hope Young and retired detective Rick Jackson who was hired on a special assignment — were scheduled to arrive on Saipan, Monday night.
Jackson was among those originally assigned to investigate Miura in 1981.
Miura’s lead counsel, Bruce Berline, filed an emergency stay on the execution of extradition in the Supreme Court on Friday to protect their client from being removed from the CNMI.
Only one of the three justices is needed to sign the stay motion to make it valid.
“After reviewing [Miura’s] arguments, the court hereby grants appellant’s motion to stay extradition and removal pending appeal,” Demapan’s order stated.
Both the prosecution and the defense were ordered to file their briefs on Sept. 22 and a hearing will be held a day after at 2 p.m.
Berline said they are pleased with the Supreme Court’s ruling.
“We’re not done yet,” he said. “We’re very happy about this.”
He said Miura will lose his chance to defend himself from what lawyers’ termed as irreparable harm if he is immediately extradited to California.
Japanese journalists covering Miura’s case were left bewildered by the stay order.
Many of them already had their airline tickets for LA where they intend to continue their coverage.
