Marc Klaas, Polly Klaas' father, expressed outrage over the rejection of convicted killer Richard Allen Davis' request for a resentencing hearing, calling it a "travesty of justice" and condemning the system that retroactively alters sentences.
Marc Klaas, Polly Klaas' father, has denounced the recent decision by a California judge to reject convicted killer Richard Allen Davis' bid to overturn his death sentence. Speaking to Fox News Digital, Klaas expressed his disappointment over the court's ruling, describing it as a "travesty of justice."
Davis, locked up at San Quentin State Prison, was sentenced to death in 1996 for abducting 12-year-old Polly from a sleepover at knifepoint and then strangling her to death in 1993. Sonoma County Judge Benjamin Williams on Friday morning rejected Davis' petition to overturn his death sentence.
Under Gov. Gavin Newsom's 2019 decision to halt the death penalty in California, no one can be executed while he is governor. However, Davis was allowed a resentencing hearing nearly 30 years after his conviction.
Klaas responded to the ruling with anger, claiming that it has reopened old wounds and is a mockery of justice. "Twenty-eight years ago, he was sentenced to death, and this was over," Klaas said. "Now I'm completely fine with the system that exists. I'm fine with the appeals process. If they had found a reason through any of the appeals why he should be resentenced ... I would have been disappointed, but I would have understood it. This is something completely different."
Klaas accused the system of retroactively altering sentences, which he believes is unfair and undermines trust in the justice system. "This is a brand-new law that retroactively reaches into the bowels of time and changes sentences for anybody for which a special circumstance was a factor in the sentencing."
Davis' request for a resentencing was based on Senate Bill 483, which allows defendants with one-year enhancements for prior convictions to request recalls and resentencings. Davis requested a full resentencing, including a new jury trial on the death penalty, based on the two-year enhancements in his case.
The Sonoma County District Attorney's Office opposed Davis' request and was successful in convincing the judge to maintain his death sentence. "We are pleased with the court's ruling as we believe the remedy sought by the defense at this hearing far surpassed what the legislature intended in enacting SB 483," District Attorney Carla Rodriguez said in a statement.
Rodriguez raised concerns about the broader implications of the legislation, stating that it could potentially affect thousands of other convicted criminals in California. "Even more troubling, this specific legislation is not an outlier, but part of a larger push by many members of our current legislature to undermine sentences and convictions handed down by courts and juries over decades."
Klaas added that he is concerned about the number of other criminals who may be eligible for resentencing under Newsom's law. "I made a public records request with the state of California to determine how many other convicted criminals in the state would be eligible to request a resentencing under Newsom's 2019 law. He received more than 9,000 names in response to his request.
Newsom's office defended the moratorium on executions, stating that the death penalty system is a failure and has discriminated against marginalized groups. A press release from Newsom's office noted that California is one of four states that have issued moratoriums on the death penalty.
According to the release, California has spent $5 billion on the death penalty system since 1978 and executed a total of 13 people.
Klaas remains steadfast in his belief that the death sentence is appropriate for Davis' crime and that the resentencing attempt is a "travesty of justice." He is urging other victims' families to be aware of their potential legal options in such cases.
