Death Row Inmates Lawyer Responds To Opposition For Clemency

KCBS ^ | 12/27/2005 | KCBS

[KingofZion]

We have plenty of MediCal recipients that can use a free wheelchair.

[goldstategop]

My father died after a painful lingering illness - at 76. I'm offended at the notion a multiple murderer should spared from meeting his Maker on the grounds he's too old. Chutzpah doesn't quite fit the attorney's request for clemency. Spare me.

(Denny Crane: "I Don't Want To Socialize With A Pinko Liberal Democrat Commie. Say What You Like About Republicans. We Stick To Our Convictions. Even When We Know We're Dead Wrong.")

[Nachum]

He fouls the air.

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[sr4402]

Allen is scheduled to die by lethal injection on January 17, one day after his 76th birthday. He would be the oldest inmate California has ever put to death.

So, the argument is we shouldn't implement the death penalty here 1) Because it is too close to his birthday, 2) because he is old. All I can say is "Awwww, toooo bad!".

What would the writer argue is old? How about 49? That's how old I am, so now would I be immune from the death penalty if the writers wish was granted. Gee, now I can kill someone and go to jail and be taken care of like. Gee, that means there would be an Incentive to Murder.

Brave new world this writer is proposing and I am glad the "Terminator" is in California. Don't think he is going to buy this writers arguments. Awwwww, Too Baaad! Hasta La Vista Baby!

[GSlob]

"All of the purposes of the death penalty have been served in his case"
Wrong. One of the purposes of death penalty [the purpose not yet served] is to remove the perp from the sustenance provided by taxpayers.

[GaltMeister]

Before Allen became what the "blind, old man" described by Satris, he was convicted of murder. While serving time for that crime, he arranged for a hit man to kill three of the witnesses whose testimony landed him in prison.

He should have used up all that pent up energy writing kiddie books, so Mike Farrell and the hollywierd loon squad would be screeching on his behalf.

[lawdude]

A supposed "conservative" talk show host was opining about the death penalty today. He wondered how conservatives could reconcile the death penalty with our opposite stance on abortion, Terry Schiavo, etc.

My response is that those are examples of murder. The death penalty is not murder because the bad guy has relinquished his right to live.

I do agree that we have come perilously close to the death penalty on some later proven innocent people.

I would entertain arguments to the effect that the death penalty can't be given unless there were hard proof (finger prints or other physical evidence) or at least one non-interested witness.

[Centurion2000]

While serving time for that crime, he arranged for a hit man to kill three of the witnesses whose testimony landed him in prison,

Probably the strongest argument for swift and sure exection.

[Centurion2000]

Conservatives would punish the guilty with death and spare the innocent.

Liberals would spare the guilty and punish the innocent with death.

[teenyelliott]

so Mike Farrell and the hollywierd loon squad would be screeching on his behalf

Nope. They won't care unless the guy is black.

[GSlob]

Well, the execution day is not his birthday, but the day after it. I'd say it alone and by itself qualifies as clemency and humanitarian consideration. Why, the state might even present him with a modest birthday gift - say, one cool can of beer. Let it not be said that CA Governor is a crocodile.

[DoughtyOne]

The guy was guilty of ordering murders from prison, which did take place. Now they argue he should be kept alive. For what, to order more murders?

There is a real shame here. The shame is that the perp was allowed to grow old while his victims were killed outright, without defense.

Hey lefties, the death penalty will end when you don't have any more criminals conviced of capital crimes to defend.

Why don't you start spending as much time trying to stop capital crimes, as you do trying to stop punishment for those who commit capital crimes?

Society is not to blame. Perps are!

[sandbar]

So they keep this man alive by appeal after appeal. Then when they've kept him alive long enough to make him a 'blind, old man', they claim you can't kill him because he's a 'blind, old man'. Stupid is as stupid does.

Too bad his victims didn't get the opportunity to live to be blind, old men and/or women.

[DirtyHarryY2K]

"He poses no danger to anyone at this point," Satris told KCBS reporter Doug Sovern. "All of the purposes of the death penalty have been served in his case, making his execution on top of that just kind of a barbarous, gratuitous punishment."

When will the libs ever understand? It's not about the murderer, Its about the citizens, the law, the victims and the justice.

Who cares how old the creep is? He's been stealing oxygen since the jury foun him guilty.

[reagandemo]

Kind of reminds me of the scene in "Blazing Saddles" where the hangman has a man up on the scaffold in a wheelchair with a noose around his neck. " I am so backed up I don't think I can possibly fit another in Sir".

[Amerigomag]

Drove by Fran's Market (nka; Sunnyside Market) and Allen's home last during Christmas shopping in Fresno. I thought how good folks would feel as a community to be rid of Allen. The constant rehash in the press for more than 20 years has taken it's toll.

For those who lived near the crime scene, the market was branded the Massacre Market and subsequent owners struggled for years to rebuild its neighborhood, customer base. Maybe, just maybe, the long delayed execution of Allen's sentence will remove this stigma from an otherwise rural, peaceful neighborhood.

[IronJack]

His attorney ... argues ... that killing such an old man is "cruel and unusual" under both the state and federal constitutions.

"He poses no danger to anyone at this point ... All of the purposes of the death penalty have been served in his case, making his execution on top of that just kind of a barbarous, gratuitous punishment."

First of all, how does his being a danger (or not) affect bear on whether the punishment is cruel or unusual? It is the nature of the punishment, not the context.

Secondly, not all the purposes of the death penalty have been served. He is still alive.

Thirdly, if his execution is a "barbarous, gratuitous punishment," then isn't continued incarcertation also barbarous and gratuitous? Shouldn't we just let him go?

Fourthly, his advanced age and precarious health are at least to some degree his own doing. Had he not filed countless appeals and delayed the wheels of justice, he would have been compost a dozen years ago. Prolonging his agony is the barbaric act, not halting it. Think of it as a mercy killing. We can parole Jack Kevorkian long enough to administer the inoculation.

[Brilliant]

"He poses no danger to anyone at this point," Satris told KCBS...


Yeah, I think they told us the same thing right after they sentenced him to life in jail without parole. That was just before he killed the three guys who testified against him.