Clemency sought for Crips founder set to die [Nobel-nominee Tookie Williams]

AP ^ | 11/8/5 | KIM CURTIS

[SmithL]

San Francisco -- The petition to save the life of condemned former gang leader Stanley "Tookie" Williams reads more like poetry than a legal document — beginning and ending with a plea for the governor to carry out "an act of grace" and stop next month's scheduled execution.

"We seek clemency for the man Stanley Williams has become, for the good work he has done, and for the good work he will continue to do," his lawyers wrote in the 13-page document delivered Tuesday to Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger. "Stanley Williams stands in the shadow of death. We seek an act of grace."

Last month, a Los Angeles County Superior Court judge set a Dec. 13 execution date for Williams, 51, who was sentenced to death in 1981 for fatally shooting Albert Owens, a Whittier convenience store worker. He also was convicted of killing two Los Angeles motel owners and their daughter during a robbery.

His appeals were exhausted in early October after the U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear the case. However, a three-judge panel of the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals suggested in a 2002 decision that Williams was a good candidate for clemency.

Williams, a founding member of the Crips gang, decided to change his life during six years in solitary confinement, according to the petition.

"He dedicated his life to doing whatever he could, from where he was, to end gang violence to warn others of the errors of the path he had followed," the petition says.

He decided in 1993 to write children's books. Ten books, including Williams'"Tookie Speaks Out Against Gang Violence" series and his autobiography, "Blue Rage, Black Redemption," were included with the petition. Lawyers also sent a copy of the television movie about Williams' life, "Redemption: The Stan 'Tookie' Williams Story,"

[jackbenimble]

I don't figure that his debt to society has been quite repaid.

[clee1]

Fry him.

[AppyPappy]

He appears to have tried to redeem himself. It sure takes them a long time to find that chair.

[Left Coast Refugee]

Kill him, his books can go on giving after he is gone!

[theDentist]

sentenced to death in 1981... 24 years....

[pabianice]

Maybe that same group of Euroweenies will break him out of prison, too.

[NCC-1701]

"..."He dedicated his life to doing whatever he could, from where he was, to end gang violence to warn others of the errors of the path he had followed," ..."

"He dedicated his life to doing whatever he could, from getting the needle shoved up a vein. SEE YA! Have a nice trip, scumbag.

[GSlob]

Couldn't his termination date be moved to Nov 13? The less of him [and the likes of him], the better for the rest of us.

[whd23]

If he were truly a reformed person, wouldn't he accept that his sentence is a final example of how being a gang-banger is a dead end?

The world will never know what additional good the people he murdered could have achieved if their lives hadn't been so casually ended by this "former" thug. Bye-bye Tookie.

[carl in alaska]

"His appeals were exhausted in early October after the U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear the case. However, a three-judge panel of the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals suggested in a 2002 decision that Williams was a good candidate for clemency."

To the 9th Circus: Surely you jest!

[Slings and Arrows]

'Tookie': Regular or Extra-Crispy?

[ArrogantBustard]

"He dedicated his life to doing whatever he could, from where he was, to end gang violence to warn others of the errors of the path he had followed,"

Hasn't done much ... we've got MS-13 activity in rural Virginia.

Fry him.

Maybe that will 'send a message' to gang-bangers and wannabes.

[SmithL]

Don't call me Shirley!

[VRWCmember]

"We seek clemency for the man Stanley Williams has become, for the good work he has done, and for the good work he will continue to do,"

OK, fine, but the man that Stanley Williams WAS still has to accept the punishment for the heinous crimes that he did.

[GAB-1955]

The German group that were "persons of interest" in the Texas case were cleared of involvement.

[DumpsterDiver]

Lawyers also sent a copy of the television movie about Williams' life, "Redemption: The Stan 'Tookie' Williams Story,"

Nothing like a TV "documentary" to exonerate your client! (Pfft)

[Grendel9]

I don't see how this idiot could possibly
have a case. Who in their right mind actually
SITS on a public toilet WITHOUT some kind of
paper protection between his arse and the seat?
Didn't this nut ever have Health class in school?

[Grendel9]

My apology to this site. I was typing a note
to the succeeding blurb.

Sorry.

[doug from upland]

This is one major murdering scumbag. He personally murdered four people, and his gang is reponsible for thousands of murders. He has helped destroy a large part of a community.

CRIPS INFO. These scumbags have dolls and a model of the week. Tookie should have been fried a very long time ago. You don't do a little writing and urge people not to be violent and think that gets you off the hook. Fry, you bastard.