After Williams, a new dilemma for governor - Gravely ill and blind man, 75

[kskiska]

After Williams, a new dilemma for governor
Next: Gravely ill and blind man, 75, scheduled to die

Clarence Ray Allen, the next inmate scheduled to die in San Quentin State Prison's execution chamber, may pose a quandary as vexing for Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger as Stanley Tookie Williams.

Allen, who has spent more than a quarter-century on Death Row, is slated to die by lethal injection Jan. 17. He would be the oldest and most infirm prisoner executed in the United States since the death penalty was restored in 1977, according to his lawyers.

Allen, who turns 76 on Jan. 16, uses a wheelchair. An advanced case of diabetes has left him legally blind. He suffered a heart attack Sept. 2.

(snip)

"He's the oldest inmate on California's Death Row. ... He's enfeebled," Michael Satris, one of Allen's lawyers, said in an interview. "No prisoner in the state of California has ever been executed at that age.

more…
http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2005/12/14/MNGNKG7Q0T1.DTL

[Talismom]

1. I hope it causes the gropinator great angst, but somehow I doubt

that it will. I don't think he has any conscience or compassion--tho it might be somewhat troubling as far his career is concerned. Pity.:sarcasm:

[Wind Dancer]

34. If any of these politicians had a conscience,

they would vote to end this barbaric practice of legalized murder.

Gropinator doesn't want to be labeled "soft on crime" or "girlymanish" so he will not interfere with the courts.

[joeybee12]

2. Even Ah-nuld has to grant clemency in this case, I mean no human

being with any sense of decency could send this guy to his death...oh, wait, we're talking about Ah-nuld.

Never mind.

[ET Awful]

12. Who said Ahnuld was human and had a sense of decency? n/t

[GatoLover]

30. Why is this guy deserving of clemency?

I am not very gung-ho about the death penalty, but this guy orchestrated the murder of four WITNESSES from his original trial, for which he had already been sentenced to life in prison. If you're against capital punishment in all cases, fine, but the fact that this guy is 75 and infirm strikes me as irrelevant. I can't see criticizing the Governator if he takes a pass on this one.

[seriousstan]

3. Had 3 witnesses from his MURDER trial killed , conspired to kill 4 others.

In reviewing the case earlier this year, the U.S. Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco found no doubt that Allen was guilty of commissioning three murders in Fresno from his prison cell in 1980 while serving a life term for ordering another murder.

The court wrote that although Allen's trial counsel failed to represent him adequately, evidence of his guilt was "overwhelming." The panel concluded that the crimes warranted "the harshest penalty" under the law.

Allen, who ran a security company in Fresno, was linked by prosecutors to a series of armed robberies in the Central Valley. He was sentenced to life in prison for ordering the murder in 1974 of his son's girlfriend. From behind bars at Folsom Prison, prosecutors said, he masterminded the murders in 1980 of three witnesses from his previous trial and conspired to kill four other witnesses.

The federal appeals court said that by attacking witnesses, "Allen struck the greatest blow possible upon our criminal justice system." The judges also noted that Allen had expressed no remorse for the crimes.


Let's get the whole story of this poor, old enfeebled man.

[Kingshakabobo]

5. Jeez. I'm anti-DP for several reasons but............

sometimes my inner Archie Bunker says some people need killin. That being said, I think the state should let nature take it's course.

[tularetom]

4. This guy is the lowest of the low

He didn't even pretend to be rehabilatated in prison, instead he masterminded more murders. In fact I suspect if his support group hadn't been busted, and he hadn't gotten sick he'd still be trying to whack people who gave him a hard time.

Generally I oppose the DP because there is always such an element of vengeance in its defenses. If you believe in a fair and just god, you should be willing to leave the vengeance to him. However, I must admit that shitheels like Clarence Ray Allen strain my beliefs.

[DinahMoeHum]

7. IMHO, giving that lowlife the DP would be clemency. . .

Let the fucker waste away in agony and die in prison.

:evilfrown:

[pokercat999]

21. My thoughts exactly, they might be doing him a favor by ending

his misery.

I am definitely anti DP.

[Stand and Fight]

6. NO MORE MURDER. PERIOD.

Enough with these executions that masquarade as justice but are nothing more than vengence and MURDER?

[sasha031]

8. maybe they should cart them off right after trial

have them on blood thinners in order to take their organs as China does. could be televised, good entertainment for the masses.

[saigon68]

43. A public execution would break all TV ratings

Everyone would watch

HELL WE COULD EVEN GIVE 2ND GRADERS A CIVICS LESSON

LET THEM SEE THE CRIMINAL DISEMBOWELED

[Wind Dancer]

35. Repeat, NO MORE MURDER. PERIOD.

They are a masquerade and we must end it NOW!

[goclark]

37. I agree nt

[Robert Cooper]

9. Perhaps someone will explain how Canada remains a civilized country...

...with a low crime rate -without- the DP?

Listening to the pro-DPers, this should be impossible.

[gratuitous]

10. Oh yeah, Canada's REAL civilized

Why, those canuckleheads have socialized medicine! And, and, hockey! And they don't even know that you're supposed to get four downs in football, and why are all those guys in the backfield moving illegally? There's too many men on the field! Throw a flag, Ref!

Yeah, civilized. Right.

[Robert Cooper]

11. I see I've cut you to the quick ;-)

you weenies -need- four downs to do what we do in -three- :evilgrin:

Now, about my question...

[ET Awful]

13. At least we have real sports, not like . . . curling

:P

[Robert Cooper]

18. I take it you've never heard of lacrosse ... or muskellunge...

...we curl to relax ;-)

[ET Awful]

19. You curl because you couldn't figure out how to play shuffleboard on ice

:P

[Robert Cooper]

24. No, we couldn't figure out why we'd want to...

...and you -are- going to get to my question eventually, aren't you?

[ET Awful]

29. Which question? :P

If you're talking about why Canada remains so civilized, I reckon cause it's too damn cold to get up to any shenanigans :P

As to the other, sure I've heard of Lacrosse. :P But what the heck is Muscle Lunging? :evilgrin:

[Spinzonner]

22. Speaking of that 'civilized' country

How's the baby seal clubing hunt going these days ?

[Robert Cooper]

23. Not as well as the veal market

You want to blame our poorest people for supplying a market to make ends meet? Who is buying those furs? Where are they being sold?

There are many animals killed each year for food and skins. They're called "cows".

Many young animals killed for meat and skins. They're called "calves"

When they're on the menu, they're called "beef" and "veal". They are butchered in far greater numbers than baby seals.

On a planet that harvests tons of fish, cattle and sundry other animals, I fail to see the distinction between them and seals.

Feel free to clarify, and while your at it, explain how this is an answer to my question?

[Spinzonner]

26. I made no claims for the US being a civilized country

I was challenging your self-description as Canada being one.

[Robert Cooper]

27. Sorry, but you haven't answered my question...

...I still hold that Canada is a civilized nation. I do not count the consumption of meat or skin as an act of barbarity. Animal exploitation is ancient and the funds collected for these pelts provides for the families of the hunters.

Despite the fact that baby seals are cute, harvesting them is no different than harvesting the cod (which is what these people used to do till the fishery was over-fished).

Unless you want to argue that animal exploitation defines an uncivilized nation (in which case there -is- no civilized nation), I do not see that you've made your point.

[ET Awful]

14. Injecting poison into the veins of a human being who is strapped

to a table and unable to move isn't justice. It's homicide.

Let him have life in prison. Odds are he'll be dead within 5 years anyway.

I wonder if there's anything in California's extremely carefully planned killing plan to allow for bringing someone into the execution chamber in a wheel chair.

Yup, he's a slimeball, but killing him won't accomplish anything.

[KamaAina]

28. Snarf! Inaccessible execution chambers!

I wonder if there's anything in California's extremely carefully planned killing plan to allow for bringing someone into the execution chamber in a wheel chair.

Maybe he could sue the state under ADA! :eyes:

[GatoLover]

31. I don't know, injecting poision into a vein

doesn't seem SO bad when compared to the electric chair or the gas chamber. I'm not anti-death penalty but those babies do strike me as cruel, if not unusual.

[Freddie Stubbs]

15. Should we descriminate against him because of his age and disability?

:shrug:

[Kingofalldems]

16. What?

[mitchum]

17. Just lock him up for life so that he can never kill again...ooops!

[pinniped]

20. Herr Gropenator requires an apology.

Let him have it, even if it may not be sincere, and see if he goes against his masters and grants clemency.

I think Herr Gropenator will conjure up another excuse not to when the real reason is his masters' hands up his ass.

[Che_Nuevara]

25. Of course he will.

Tookie's execution had nothing to do with his not apologizing. He's playing to his Evil Masters. Any clemency grant would immediately make him lose favor with those above him.

[donheld]

32. Sounds to me like the lethal injection would be a blessing

I'm anti-death penalty, but this man is only suffering.

[hughee99]

33. Frankly, it would be upsetting if he did...

Since the Gropenator didn't grant clemency to Williams who was at least trying to redeem himself, why would he grant clemency to Allen, and unrepentant killer who was still reaching out to hurt people while inside prison, just because of his current health status. I'm not a fan of the DP, but I have no sympathy at all for Allen.

[SoCalDem]

36. I guess we'll see where Ahhhnold stands on euthanasia..n/t

[MrSlayer]

38. This guy probably welcomes execution.

Old, sick, blind. I'd be happy to be put out of my misery.

[fortyfeetunder]

39. And the timing of it all

The guy celebrates his 77th birthday and he's scheduled to be executed at midnight the next day.

Considering the problem the technician had in finding a vein in Mr. Williams' arm last week, are they going to get someone more experienced to do the deed on older, collapsible veins?

Geez. I don't want to imagine any more...

[NuttyFluffers]

40. a grave threat to society, indeed.

wonder if a 'confession' to the terminator/priest will save him?
:sarcasm:

[donheld]

41. Is this an execution or a mercy killing?

It sounds like he's suffering quite a lot.

[toopers]

42. The best punishment is to sit him across from the chamber . . .

let him see it everyday, tell him that today is his last day - everyday until he dies.