Justices decline to block Williams execution

AP ^ | 12/11/5 | DAVID KRAVETS

[SmithL]

San Francisco -- Crips co-founder Stanley Tookie Williams lost another bid before the California Supreme Court when the justices unanimously ruled late Sunday not to reopen his case and block his Tuesday execution by lethal injection.

The high court ruled 6-0, and said the last-minute appeal lacked merit and was untimely as well, meaning Williams will be executed unless Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger grants clemency or an anticipated last-ditch federal appeal is successful. California's justice days ago also turned down a similar appeal from Williams, who is scheduled to be the 12th condemned inmate executed since state lawmakers reinstated the death penalty in 1977 after a brief hiatus.

State prosecutors implored the justices early Sunday to dismiss Williams' latest petition to block his Tuesday execution for murdering four people in 1979.

The stay request filed on Williams' behalf "is without merit and is manifestly designed for delay," Deputy Attorney General Lisa Brault wrote the justices.

Brault's brief came hours after a lawyer for Williams, 51, urged the state Supreme Court to call off the Crips co-founder's upcoming death contending Williams should have been allowed to argue at his 1981 Los Angeles County trial that someone else killed one of his four alleged victims.

[connectthedots]

I thought he was innocent? Gee after all these years he finally admits to committing at least three murders! Not that its much of a concession but it shows how his Fan Club has been played for fools. I just love how that sociopath suckered them with his jive about having changed. I didn't believe it for a minute.

I don't think his 'fan club' ever said he wasn't guilty of any of the murders. Their argument was that he has done so much good since being imprisoned, he should be granted clemency.

Whatever 'good' he has done while in prison is not legal justification for the CASC for the the court to delay his execution, so the last hope to get judicial relief from the Tuesday execution was to raise some 'new issue'. i really doubt his attorneys ever thought this ploy would work.

[newzjunkey]

So if Arnold somehow is overcome with idiocy and grants clemency, will people riot or just vote him out?

If Tookie's put down, I'm sure you've heard folks fear rioting from the "black community." Actually in CA that phrase is almost redundant with the word "riot" so much that the some media outlets have banned that word due to "racial connotations" and call such an event a melee instead.

[newfarm4000n]

or since that time to show Tookie is worthy of clemency.

Well I mean short of curing cancer ( from a cell with nothing in it) nothing he does could ever make up for four murders.

[rambo316]

Next, in the not too distant future, there will probably be a "Tookie Day" on the same line as MLK Day and the other fake holiday, Rosa Parks Day.

[mcg2000]

How'd you like the news link below this story? Typical LA Times, eh?

"Aging, Ill Inmate Is Next in Line on Death Row"

[Mercat]

I didn't even know who he was nor cared until the wacky left started their stupid rant. Now I want a "Die Tookie Die" bumper sticker.

[metmom]

Same here.