Posted on 12/12/2005 9:54:28 PM PST by Daralundy
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger did not just reject Stanley Tookie Williams' request for clemency, he aggressively attacked the central element of the former gang leader's case: Williams, he said, had never really reformed.
Over the last decade, Williams had become famous based on his account of how he went from a gang leader to an anti-gang crusader who had written books aimed at steering young people away from crime. That life story was at the heart of Williams' request for clemency.
Schwarzenegger rejected it entirely, suggesting Williams' redemption claim was "hollow."
The governor laid out his case in a five-page statement that was unusual for the length, detail and blunt tone in which it dismissed Williams' claims. Aides said the statement was largely drafted by Andrea Hoch, Schwarzenegger's legal affairs secretary, and her predecessor, Peter Siggins. Schwarzenegger announced last week that he was appointing Siggins to a state appellate court.
Aides to the governor, speaking on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to publicly discuss the governor's deliberations, said Schwarzenegger was reviewing drafts of the statement as late as Monday morning. It was officially released shortly after noon. He reviewed as many as half a dozen drafts, asking detailed questions, the aides said.
In the days leading up to the deadline, Schwarzenegger had said that he was approaching the decision with "dread" and that deciding another man's fate was a governor's most difficult task.
But "there is nothing in the tone of the governor's decision that suggests it was a close call or agonized over," said USC law professor Jody Armour.
Instead, Schwarzenegger said there was no question that Williams had murdered four people in 1979. Williams' repeated refusal to admit that became, to the governor, a powerful factor against clemency.
(Excerpt) Read more at latimes.com ...
And thankfully, very soon now.
God did specify that vengeance is his, but he never specified what method he would use to get his vengeance.
How dare this innocent angel gets the needle!
"Tookie...it is time."
I am not being a judge just had a thought about what Tookie believes in.I am not sure how a muslim would be punished for this crime.
What did this poor woman do to have this terrible crime against her?
She innocently was in Tookie's way when he came through on his crime spree. She was innocent and he killed her along with other members of her family.
Good job Ahnold!
Juice this POS already.
The biggest crime is that it needlessly took a quarter-century for justice to be rendered.
Her crime was being in the wrong place at the wrong time and being a 'Buddha Head' as tookie put it.
Good riddance to that POS and his racist supporters (sharpton, jackson drop dead).
bttt
Had Williams admitted his crime, asked forgiveness and plead foe mercy he would have had a better shot at clemency.
His was the biggest crime in this...now followed by a society that allowed him to live off our its hard earned money for the last 20 some odd years.
Amen.
I understand you're woprked up abouit this - but damn it - that picture is disgusting - and has been pulled on other threads. Take the hint and quit posting it.
...and you are right. It is disgusting, but that is the nature of what happened. It's akin, IMHO, to people wanting to just forget about 911 and not see the people dieing there. Nobody wants to see it that I know of...but it lets us know what the nature of these people are so we don;t go soft as a society.
Anyhow, that's how I feel about it,. No hint necessary, Kieth. I am not changing my feelings about it. The mods will act as they will.
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