"Life without Parole" can always be commuted by some about to be indicited governor hoping to taint the jury pool. Death on the other hand is permanant at least in this life. If Tookie has a clemency request, he will have an opportunity to present it in the next life.
Remember ted bundy, convicted and admitted to at least 28 murders, was in prison in colarado, for life, double, triple life when he ESCAPED and murdered at least another DOZEN women. If the crying, bleeding heart liberals would have pulled the plug on teddy boy, he never would have had the opportunity to kill more INNOCENT women. Who speaks for them?
As long as he's alive, some radical, Leftist Liberal Governor or President can always pardon him or commute his sentence to "time served", or some such nonsense..
Only a properly carried out death penalty will guarantee this piece of filth never violates another human being again..