Mooney your rite about the 2nd degree. Hmmm. So that eliminates the premeditated niece angle. If they thought he killed him cause he wouldnt allow him to date his niece then thats a motive an it would be a 1st. Maybe the lawyers throwing everything at the wall hoping to get a plea deal where he might get parole in 20yrs or so. And if calis family wont talk to cops or the d.a. there gonna let this guy take a plea and save tons of time and money. If the victim's family doesnt cooperate thats what they do alot. Sometimes the lawyer pleads it down to manslaughter gets you like 10yrs. The finger print on the plate you cant spin that but spur of the moment plus the family isnt the call cops and let them handle the problem type maybe he gets 15yrs living in a pc prison in Montana. States do prisoner exchanges for guys alot