Prosecutors have decided against a plea deal with a man accused of shooting his mother and stepfather in their northwest Bakersfield home.

Derek Connell offered to plead guilty to second-degree murder to avoid the death penalty. His attorney, Paul Cadman, says the DA’s Office should have said yes because the case may take years to resolve or the death penalty may be overturned in November.

Prosecutors say they did not have enough time to review the deal but may accept it at Connell’s next court date on the 17th.

Kelli Forsch