Schwarzenegger holds life-or-death hearing for Williams

By: Wire Reports - | Thursday, December 8, 2005 2:04 PM PST ∞

Attorneys for convicted killer Stanley "Tookie" Williams pleaded their case for clemency today to Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, who will now decide whether the Crips co-founder will be executed.

Stanley "Tookie" Williams, the body-building co-founder of the Crips, is sentenced to die by lethal injection Tuesday. He was convicted of the murders of four people during a robbery spree in 1979.

In California, only the governor has the authority to commute a death sentence to life in prison.

Attorneys for Williams and the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office each delivered 30 minutes of arguments to the governor, with prosecutors insisting that Williams deserved to die for the slayings and defense lawyers arguing that he has renounced gang violence.

Defense attorneys also planned to deliver a statement from Williams, although lead lawyer Peter Fleming was tight-lipped after the closed-door hearing.

"I'm not addressing how I feel, how the meeting went," Fleming told reporters in Sacramento. "I'm trying to make this as amusing and irrelevant a press conference as I possibly can."

Fleming said he had no idea when Schwarzenegger might make a decision. Fleming did say Williams continues to profess his innocence.

"When I first met Stanley, I said, `If you did this, you should confess to it, because it'll help,"' Fleming said. "But he said, `If my innocence will cost me my life, so be it."'

Williams reportedly met Schwarzenegger years ago when both were bodybuilders.

For months, anti-death penalty groups have rallied in support of Williams, who has written some children's books aimed at steering youths away from gangs. Supporters also have nominated him for Nobel prizes, for peace and in literature.

If granted clemency, Williams would become the first condemned murderer to be spared since executions resumed in California in 1992.

His lawyers argue that their client was convicted by a jury with no black members, and that much of the evidence against him is circumstantial. Attorneys also questioned the use of jailhouse informants at trial, but all legal appeals on Williams' behalf have failed since his 1981 convictions.

Prosecutors say Williams is a cold-blooded killer who never accepted responsibility for the murders of Albert Owens, a Whittier 7-Eleven employee, and the shotgun murders of Tsai-Shai Chen Yang, Yen-I Yang and Yu-Chin Yang Lin at a South Vermont Avenue motel less than two weeks later.

In a 50-page response to Williams' petition for executive clemency, Los Angeles County prosecutors wrote that "this cold-blooded killer, Stanley Williams, now seeks mercy, the very mercy he so callously denied" the four murder victims.

Included in the response were letters from law enforcement officials and two family members of one of his victims, all urging Schwarzenegger to let the execution proceed.

Assemblyman Todd Spitzer, R-Orange, criticized the governor for even considering clemency.

"Tookie Williams is the co-founder of one of the most violent street gangs in Los Angeles. He has shown no remorse for the four people he brutally murdered and has offered no apology to the victims' families. A jury convicted him and sentenced him to death. He has exhausted every judicial appeal over the past 20 years. It is time that the sentence imposed upon him is carried out."

Spitzer, a former prosecutor with the Orange County District Attorney's Office, said the numerous appeals allowed in death penalty cases "are ridiculous and arguably add to people's cynicism of the criminal justice system."

Williams, now 51, was 16 when he and a high school friend, Raymond Washington, began the Crips in South Los Angeles in 1971. Washington was later shot to death.

Since being condemned to death, Williams has renounced his gang past, penned children's books, been the subject of a cable TV movie called "Redemption" starring Jamie Foxx and was nominated in 2000 for a Nobel Peace Prize by Swiss Parliament member Mario Fehr for the anti-gang work he has done from his 9-by-4-foot cell.

Calls for clemency have been mounting from religious and community leaders and celebrities such as Foxx, the rapper Snoop Dogg, actor Mike Farrell and activist Bianca Jagger.

National Association for the Advancement of Colored People President Bruce Gordon, also supports clemency, calling Williams "our secret weapon to help young African-Americans avoid gangs."

"We want to save his life so he can save the lives of others," Gordon said.

Los Angeles police Chief William Bratton and others have questioned Williams' worth in dissuading youths from gang activity.

"Half of them don't know who the hell he is," Bratton told Fox11. "Others don't believe that he should be anointed as a leader of the Crips because they're still gang banging."

City Attorney Rocky Delgadillo told San Francisco Chronicle columnist Debra J. Saunders that he sees Williams' legacy as one of "death and violence."

"No matter how he tries to distance himself from violent gangs, he helped create them," Delgadillo said.

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Diane wrote on Dec 8, 2005 2:53 PM:The Governor has to hear a clemency hearing if it is brought forth by the William's attorneys - it's not like he can say "Nope, sorry! Talk to the hand!" so to criticize the Governor for considering the hearing. He isn't considering clemency, he's having a hearing for the attorney's to plead for this guys life. Put yourself in his shoes Spitzer....you'd be sittin' at this hearing too and 'considering' it because that's what you do as a Governor!

CHRISTINA B. wrote on Dec 8, 2005 10:51 PM:I FEEL STRONGLY AGAINST THE DEATH PENALTY.LET GOD DO HIS JOB.HE WILL HAVE TO ANSWEAR TO HIM.

Mark wrote on Dec 8, 2005 11:05 PM:Nuke the Took!!!

Brad wrote on Dec 8, 2005 11:07 PM: I saw this happen in Texas with a truly reformed inmate named Karla Faye Tucker. Even the victim's famaily did not want her excuted, and pleaded for clemency because they saw how God had transformed her life, and all the good she had done for others. She also had the courage to admit to the murders she'd committed, and took responsibility for them. This is something Tookie will never do, but he won't die an innocent man like he says. He might have a chance at clemency if he confessed, but I just don't think he has the courage. They executed Karla Faye Tucker, and a lot of people still feel the State Of Texas excuted an Angel that night. I know I do.

John wrote on Dec 8, 2005 11:08 PM:Good Point, Diane!

Dennis wrote on Dec 8, 2005 11:08 PM:How can a man be reformed when he will not own up to what he has done. It is time to put an end to this and Governor Schwarzenegger must do his duty, he must now forget the victims. The sentence must be carried out.

Tony wrote on Dec 8, 2005 11:17 PM:The only way he should be allowed to live is if he can bring back the victims of his crimes, the victims can not speak anymore. I applaud the fact that he has imbraced peace and has lead a peacfull life in prison, now it's time to take his punishment that he so carelessly dished out at the 7/11 and the motel. One thing I remember from working in prison before I was activated into the military was I never met anyone in prison that was guilty.....amazing.

Doc wrote on Dec 8, 2005 11:24 PM:Why kill a man who will spend the rest of his life behind bars, in a tiny cell, trying to save lives? Anyone who thinks he should die has not read the statistics on how likely a black man will get the death penalty, or have known that this case had no real evidence. Gossip can kill.

leon wrote on Dec 8, 2005 11:27 PM:Clemency will send a wrong message to the deciples of Williams, the gang bangers that create fear and havoc in society. Dont ever forget the amount of innocent lives lost because of gangs. Williams was an example to those who followed him into the violent life of gang bangers...now society must make an example of him. Maybe in an ironic way it will save the life of just a fewjuveniles contemplating the gang life.

aka mommy wrote on Dec 8, 2005 11:27 PM:free tookie

John wrote on Dec 8, 2005 11:28 PM:Williams has been in jail for 26 years. He will not be able to get out of jail. The question is to kill him now or not. I'm about the same age as Williams and I am a very different person than I was 26 years ago. If we kill him now we will not be killing the horrid person who committed those crimes, we will be killing the person who grew up in jail and made himself into a useful human being.

Scott wrote on Dec 8, 2005 11:38 PM:I beleive that we should not take a mans life without all reviews being done. Haveing said that, it is time that Williams pay the penalty for the crimes that he did comitt. He can never do enough good to make up for the four executions he comitted. I hope to hear next wednesday that the punishment Williams deserves was given to him, death by lethal injection.

Robert wrote on Dec 8, 2005 11:43 PM:One can never make up for killing innocent people. But if what is written about him is true, he is trying to help and has done some good since then. Who would win by his execution? Only those who desire revenge instead of justice. And when justice becomes a tool for revenge, it is arguable if it can be called "justice" any more. His remaining lifetime, if used to discourage others from living a violent life as he had done before, can help others. His death will help no one. And while a controversial issue, consider this: some of those very politicians who wish his death for murdering four are responsible for the deaths of thousands of innocent people in Iraq. Very well said by Elbert Hubbard: "So long as governments set the example of killing their enemies, private individuals will occasionally kill theirs."

brannon parker wrote on Dec 9, 2005 12:22 AM:"We want to save his life so he can save the lives of others," Gordon said. This quote says it all. Lets hope the Gov does the right thing and shows clemency to Mr Williams.

Brannon wrote on Dec 9, 2005 12:23 AM:"We want to save his life so he can save the lives of others," Gordon said. The above quote says it all. Lets hope the governor does the right thing and sees the long term benefit of showing Mr Williams Clemency.

ct wrote on Dec 9, 2005 12:24 AM:Redemption?? Not!!! Its time to execute this worthless piece of garbage.

George wrote on Dec 9, 2005 12:36 AM:Diane, i completely agree with you Spitzer needs to realize its easy to just talk........

Samoht wrote on Dec 9, 2005 12:40 AM:I am betting Arnold will let him live in prison the rest of his life!!!!!!!!!!!!! In this country we rarley elect hard line leaders that understand the importance of making life and death decisions. Now really, is this one person going to be missed? I doubt that very much. Does the families of those he murdered miss their loved ones, very much. Does it bring them back, never. But it sends the message that we can do without you, the murderer, in our midsts and we want to uphold the findings of the jury. Maybe we should let every convicted murderer sentenced to death live for 20 or 30 years, let them write all the books they want, do all the good they want and then kill them!

Mark wrote on Dec 9, 2005 12:41 AM:Just kill the guy! I'm a minority myself so race etc etc has nothing to do with it. I however, have been directly affected by this man's actions. His violent creation has polluted my neighborhoods, made it near impossible to go to any public school without joining a gang. For those who choose the path least traveled, the other gangs will pick at you until you either snapp or finally make it to graduation. I made it to graduation but I have a scar from my chin to the top of my skull, other knife cuts, and gunshot wounds as a result of just living in a neighborhood poisoned by this man's creation. I was an A+ student, i'm currently working on my masters degree in robotics at Vanderbilt University. I have never broken the law or joined a gang, and i'm PROUD!!

Steve wrote on Dec 9, 2005 12:49 AM:It's interesting to note once again that most of those calling for the execution of Williams are fairly wealthy, whereas the large portion of those against his execution are of moderate to low level incomes. this speaks volumes -- rich people need to get out in the streets more and know their brothers, especially you Mr. Spitzer. Regardless, no matter how you twist it, it is WRONG to KILL. Granting clemency teaches mercy, execution teaches... what?

Philip wrote on Dec 9, 2005 12:53 AM:I am not privy to first hand info, but what I have read & heard tells me putting Tookie Williams to death will eliminate a very evil element in this life. At some point common sense dictates some people should be put to death for the betterment of humanity. If Schwarzenegger lost his mind, his will & granted clemency, he would send the worst message to the kids everyone is talking about saving.

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