Schwarzenegger still undecided on clemency

Reuters on Yahoo ^ | 12/10/05 | Reuters

[NormsRevenge]

SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger will not decide on Saturday whether to grant clemency to former Crips gang leader Stanley Tookie Williams, who is slated to be executed on Tuesday for murdering four people in 1979, his office said.

Barring clemency or last-minute court intervention, officials will administer a lethal injection to Williams at 12:01 a.m. on Tuesday in the death chamber at San Quentin State Prison.

The case has generated widespread interest and fierce debate over the death penalty in the United States because Williams, 51, has written a series of books warning young people against gangs and says he has found redemption.

His supporters have said he should be spared so he can continue his anti-gang work from behind bars.

The governor's office told Reuters that Schwarzenegger would not be making a decision on Saturday and gave no indication of when he would.

Following a clemency hearing on Thursday, Schwarzenegger said the decision was a "heavy responsibility" and he was carefully studying all sides of the issue.

Granting clemency would be a risk for Schwarzenegger, weakened by a stinging loss on all his initiatives in a special election he called last month, as it could alienate his Republican party.

But it could help boost his flagging popularity in a state where Democrats are the largest party as he looks to reelection in 2006.

U.S. governors typically stay executions because of doubts over evidence in the case or fairness of the trial rather than because of redemption. Williams has said he did not commit the murders, but said he hurt many people as leader of the Crips gang in the Los Angeles area.

[KeyLargo]

LIVE JOHN & KEN BROADCAST FROM SAN QUENTIN PRISON

took 2You’ve got to go sometime and sometime for Tookie is the first minute of December 13th, unless the Governor decides it’s in his best political interest to give the Killer a free ride for murdering four innocent people (see crime scene photos below). John & Ken will be broadcasting live from San Quentin Prison, Monday December 12th at 3pm. Listen as John & Ken debate the crowd of cheese and wine Liberals, save the whales and murderers groups and assorted gang banger types. Remember to listen this Monday from 3pm to 7pm. KFI AM 640 More Stimulating Talk Radio

WOULD YOU CONSIDER A PARDON FOR THE SCUMBAG RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS ?
WARNING: GRAPHIC CONTENT
http://www.johnandkenshow.com/

[DoughtyOne]

Both of us agree with you. The execution will take place Tuesday if Scwarzenegger doesn't commute the sentence. Thus, advocating he take until Wednesday to announce, means the execution would take place as planned.

I am outraged at the very thought the likes of this sub-human would get clemency. It's an outrage that his victims weren't afforded more mercy, but they weren't. Put him to death now.