(RepublicanPress.org) – In October 1993, 12-year-old Polly Klaas was hosting a sleepover with her friends in California when Richard Allen Davis broke into her room in the middle of the night. He tied up and blindfolded all the girls, kidnapped Polly, and strangled her to death in a ditch about 50 miles from her home. David was convicted of murder in 1996 and sentenced to death but is still alive to this day.
Recently, Davis argued that he is entitled to a resentencing, based on a 2021 California law eliminating sentencing enhancements for prior convictions. When the killer went to trial for Polly Klaas’ murder, it wasn’t his first time in the courtroom.
Davis had a long criminal past and had just been released from prison for kidnapping when he snatched and murdered the little girl. His confession and conviction prompted the Golden State to shore up its sentencing laws against those with lengthy criminal pasts. However, the laws have eased since and Davis is trying to use that change to get off death row.
Polly’s father, Marc Klaas, argued against the move. The grieving dad wrote that he and the Sonoma County prosecutors believed Davis’ death sentence meant the killer would be “segregated from society for the rest of his life.” Outrages, he added, “could not have been more wrong.” Mr. Klass asked, “Where’s [his] consideration?” He said Davis’ recent attempt for “another chance” dredges up “extreme pain” for all involved.
The prosecutors stated the law doesn’t apply to Davis, stating the new law would only affect “two years worth” of his sentence on other charges, excluding Polly’s murder.
The 2021 bill, introduced by state Senator Ben Allen, eliminating the “three strikes” rule can “apply retroactively.” The lawmaker believed at the time it would make the legal system more fair. On April 4, Allen said the law wasn’t meant to “undo the death sentences of condemned killers.” He believes the prosecutors will prevail.
Copyright 2024, RepublicanPress.org
