In any event, Judge Chin had plenty of other reasons to reject the deal and so didn't belabor this one.

"This whole situation is a mess," Judge Chin said at the time.

Later, Judge Chin told the lawyers that he was concerned about suggestions by a French official.

Although they did not pull the trigger, Judge Chin said, the two men were equally responsible for the officer's death.

Even so, Judge Chin said, the state courts rejected testimony from two other witnesses who had told essentially the same story.

In his decision Judge Chin said there were decisive differences between the two plays.

Until last week she was a clerk to Judge Chin.

"I am troubled by this," Judge Chin said, according to a transcript.

"This whole situation is a mess," Judge Chin declared from the bench.

But on Tuesday, Judge Chin learned about six more.