My students raised the issue of Tookie Williams during one of my classes today. Several expressed the view that he should spend the rest of his life in prison. I agree – with the proviso that the rest of his life ends on December 12 at 12:01 AM.

Looks like the California courts have determined that a delay of two-and-a-half decades is sufficient.

The state's high court ruled 6-0 against staying the execution, saying Williams' last-minute appeal lacked merit and was untimely. Deputy Attorney General Lisa Brault had implored the justices early Sunday to dismiss his petition, writing that it "is without merit and is manifestly designed for delay."
The justices earlier denied a defense request to reopen the case over allegations that shoddy forensics linked a weapon used in three of the 1979 murders to a shotgun registered to Williams.

I also agreed with the kids that strapping him to a table and doing a lethal injection is wrong – but the courts won’t allow him to be buried next to an anthill and doused with honey.

After all, let’s remember what he did. He killed four people who were complying with his directions during another felony. Regardless of his “reformed life”, there is a price to be paid by this criminal wh has never taken responsibility for his crimes. The bill will be stamped “PAID” in the early morning hours in California.

UPDATE: Looks like even the judges of the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals are turning down this stone cold killer in his bid to receive the mercy he failed to show his victims. Hopefully Williams will be stone cold 12 hours from now.

UPDATE 2: The Terminator refuses to stop TookieÂ’s termination.

"Clemency cases are always difficult and this one is no exception," Schwarzenegger said in a prepared statement.

"After studying the evidence, searching the history, listening to the arguments and wrestling with the profound consequences, I could find no justification for granting clemency. The facts do not justify overturning the jury's verdict or the decisions of the courts in this case."

Hasta la vista, baby.

UPDATE 3: Law enforcement personnel are on alert, ready for violence when Tookie meets his maker.

The possible execution Tuesday of Crips gang co-founder Stanley "Tookie" Williams, convicted of murdering four people, has North County law enforcement agencies alert for retaliation.

Issue lot's of ammo and meet any violence with maximum force. Send Tookie with a dishonor guard of his fellow thugs.

UPDATE 4: Supreme Court rejects Tookie stay -- the execution remains on.

Posted by: Greg at 12:23 PM | No Comments | Add Comment
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