California's death row injustice
In our editorial today, we address the unfairness of the length of time inmates can spend on death row, often dying of natural causes or by suicide before they are executed. That's to be expected when the average wait for execution in the state is 17.2 years, twice the national figure. But it is unacceptable.
This leaves victims' families feeling cheated out of any sense of justice or closure.
The latest case is the death earlier this week of convicted murderer Billy Ray Hamilton (pictured above left), who died of natural causes on death row, where he has been since his conviction in 1982. Hamilton fired a sawed-off shotgun to kill three young people -- Douglas White, 18, Josephine Rocha, 17, and Bryon Schletewitz, 27 -- inside Fran's Market in Fresno in 1980.
"Goodness sake!" said Roy White, father of Douglas. "He should have been shot outside the market. I'm glad he suffered."
Arthur Alarcon, a veteran judge on the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Los Angeles who wrote an article for the Southern California Law Review article, told The Los Angeles Times that neglect by politicians and the failure of the Legislature and Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger to put more money into the process are at the root of the dysfunction.
"The delays in reviewing capital cases will continue to grow in California to the point where the United States Supreme Court may some day hold that such imprisonment is, in and of itself, cruel and unusual punishment," Alarcon told the Times.
A legal challenge to the constitutionality of execution by lethal injection has put California executions on hold for the past 19 months. Clarence Ray Allen, the mastermind behind the Fran's Market murders, was the last prisoner executed in California, on Jan. 17, 2006.
Comments
I seldom agree with the Bee on anything - hey, I’m a contrarian - but kudos to the Bee on today's editorial. Hit it right on!
Posted by: T C Morgan | October 26, 2007 1:55 PM
Too bad he had to die of natural causes 27 years after he murdered those 3 people. As someone who spent a great deal of my allowance at that store on soda, candy and other treats, I would have loved for him to have had the experience of knowing that he was going to die that day, strapped to a gurney like the monster he was. Now he can be reunited in hell with Clarence Ray Allen, where they both truly belong. Too bad the parents of Mr. Schletewitz didn't live to see this happy day!!! Good riddance dirt bag!!!!
Posted by: David Nickels | October 26, 2007 3:57 PM
The death penalty is a big joke as criminals are there costing the taxpayers money to house and feed them with them getting appeal after appeal. The victims didn't get an appeal. Then they gripe that lethal injection is inhuman. Their crimes are inhuman. Execute the animals in a reasonable amount of time or abolish the stupid death penalty and let them serve life without parole which is what being on death row is anyway. I am sorry that the families of the victims didn't get justice for their loved ones. The thing to do is kill them and harvest their organs so good people can live.
Posted by: Jackie Krage | October 26, 2007 8:51 PM
The death penalty is far more expensive than life imprisonment without the possibility of parole.
Let them rot in prison, rather then wasting our money in taxes.
Posted by: Rich | October 26, 2007 11:00 PM
iam a firm believer in the death penalty.after they recieve their death sentence,3 days later execute them,no appeals,nothing but DEATH
Posted by: Christian Breaud | October 27, 2007 9:18 AM
I knew all of the victims from that horrible day, and can remember my conversation with Brian several hours befor he died. I talked with Josephine's mother 30 minutes later at the drive thru dairy where she worked. Then that night a news break on the radio about a tripple murder at Frans Mkt. froze me in my chair. I will never forget that day and the long talks with Ray for several years following. Knowing the horrifying details of the murders and the blood stained ceiling inside the back room of the store that was over 20 feet high. Billy Ray Hamilton and Ray Allan may have served time, but justice was not served to the families of the victims. Both of those animals were convicted and there was no doubt of what they had done, yet they were still fed and housed by our government for all those waisted years.Ray, Fran,Brian,Doug, and Josephine, May you rest in peace.
Posted by: Bill | October 27, 2007 9:54 AM
To abolish the death penalty is a frightening thought. From behind prison walls, while serving a life sentence for murdering a 17-year-old girl, Clarence Ray Allen planned the execution of my brother. His plan was carried out by Billy Ray Hamilton. Allen only needed to communicate his instructions ... From behind prison walls he continued to be a danger to our world. With his last breath, I believe Allen thought he would be getting away with his heinous crimes. For some murderers, their execution ... their removal from the face of our earth ... is the only solution for the safety of innocents.
Posted by: Tricia | October 31, 2007 3:17 PM
i was roommates with brian i remember that day he wasnt supposed to be working, that day he worked for his dad but god works in mysterious ways the bible says god wont give you more then you can handle and i know brian couldnt of handled the lose of his dad. i believe there in heaven.i went to school clovis high with josephine & doug quite nice people. god watching over you i love you cindy
Posted by: cindy jorgensen | November 27, 2007 10:15 PM
I never got the chance to meet my cousin Douglas. I was born several years after this happened but I remember hearing the story from my family. I am very glad that these two beasts are no longer wasting oxygen or taxpayer dollars. Rest in peace, Doug.
Posted by: Randy Buckley | August 20, 2008 11:14 PM