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California's movie star governor refuses to spare elderly killer
Celebrity governor Arnold Schwarzenegger refused on to spare the life of a frail, elderly killer set to be executed in a California prison a day after his 76th birthday.
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California's movie star governor refuses to spare elderly killer
Fri Jan 13, 6:26 PM ET
Celebrity governor Arnold Schwarzenegger refused on to spare the life of a frail, elderly killer set to be executed in a California prison a day after his 76th birthday.
The film star famous for his role as "The Terminator" denied the request for clemency by Clarence Ray Allen a month to the day after the execution of condemned gang founder Stanley "Tookie" Williams.
"While serving a life sentence for murder, Allen executed a plan to silence witnesses," Schwarzenegger said in a written release.
"Allen's crimes are the most dangerous sort because they attack the justice system itself. The passage of time does not excuse Allen from the jury's punishment."
Allen's lawyers have petitioned the US Supreme Court to stop the execution based on the argument it would be cruel and unusual punishment because of the inmate's pathetic physical condition.
A federal judge this week rejected an identical request to spare Allen.
Allen, whose 76th birthday is Monday, is blind, partially deaf, and has used a wheelchair routinely since being revived after a near-fatal heart attack several months ago, according to prison officials.
Allen is scheduled to be executed by lethal injection at San Quentin Prison across the bay from San Francisco on Tuesday morning, minutes after his birthday ends.
"He is feeling great right now," prison spokesman Eric Messick told AFP. "He has shared with me that he looks forward to his birthday on Monday because he will see grandchildren and a lot of people he hasn't seen in a long time."
Allen has ordered a "hefty" last meal, the details of which will be released on Monday, Messick said.
California's oldest death row resident asked for a birthday reprieve from Schwarzenegger or the US Supreme Court, based on the argument he is too aged and infirm to execute, according to his lawyers.
Schwarzenegger stood his political ground regarding the controversial execution of convicted killer Williams on December 13.
Music and film stars along with Nobel laureates and political figures took part in a passionate, failed campaign to convince Schwarznegger to commute Williams' sentence to life in prison.
Supporters of Williams, a founder of the notorious Crips gang in Los Angeles, argued he had earned redemption by becoming an anti-gang advocate and author while in San Quentin.
Death penalty opponents, minus the marquee star power, have rallied on behalf of Allen.
Allen was in prison for murder when he was convicted of orchetrating the slayings of three people whose testimony helped put him behind bars, according to court records. He was sent to death row in 1982.
Copyright © 2006 Agence France Presse. All rights reserved. The information contained in the AFP News report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without the prior written authority of Agence France Presse.
Copyright © 2006 Yahoo! Inc. All rights reserved.
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Also, Clarence Ray Allen isn't an innocent victim, but a vicious killer who was already in jail for murder when he arranged the murders of three other people. But I know death penalty opponents don't like to hear about victims, they're not as important as criminals. And all those death row inmates are innocent I'm sure, like that guy whose DNA was just tested which was supposed to prove his innocence after his exuction but only confirmed his guilt.
To address the above comments, there wasn't ever 100% certainty of Allen's guilt, according to the US Constitution that requires intervention from the Governor to hold off the execution. Arnold behaves similar to the Nazi executioners of WW2 Nazi controlled Germany by authorizing the illegal and wrongful executions of people (Williams, Allen, etc..) that could possibly be innocent..
The reason people are outraged about the recent executions is that many people on death row in other states including CA have been proven innocent AFTER the execution has already taken place. This pattern has occurred numerous times and indicates a serious flaw in the US judicial system and for that reason we demand an immediate MORATORIUM on the death penalty. However, Nazi-esque politicians like Arnold are completely deaf to the cries of the people who demand an end to the brutal death penalty. Maybe we will be deaf also when Arnold is held accountable for his numerous crimes against the people during his brief reign of terror after his total recall seizure of power..
That just addresses the questions of accuracy concerning people convicted on death row. Ethical concerns of whether the death penalty are even effective (not) or even prove anything also needs to be examined in greater detail. What did the state of CA prove to anyone by executing an elderly man in a wheelchair other than tow wrongs don't make a right? Are the victims really satisfied? Many victims are oppossed to the death penalty because it does nothing to take away the hurt they already experience. Would suggest people who continue to support the death penalty educate themselves on these topics before advocating the state taking human life..
Only love can conquer hate;
luna moth
Here are some other resources;
http://www.deathpenaltyinfo.org/article.php?did=573&scid=62