SACRAMENTO, Calif. "” Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (search) denied clemency Friday to a man convicted of murdering a couple, their 10-year-old daughter and their daughter's friend with a buck knife and a hatchet.
It was the first death penalty case for the new Republican governor and the decision cleared the way for Kevin Cooper's (search) execution, scheduled for Feb. 10.
Cooper was convicted of the 1983 stabbing deaths of Douglas and Peggy Ryen, both 41, their daughter, Jessica, and her 11-year-old friend, Christopher Hughes. The Ryens' 8-year-old son, Joshua, survived a slit throat.
Cooper, now 46, had escaped from prison, where he was doing time for burglary. Authorities believe he wanted to steal the family's station wagon.
The case drew attention because Cooper's family believed key evidence had not been considered, but Schwarzenegger said the case had been fully evaluated.
"Evidence establishing his guilt is overwhelming, and his conversion to faith and his mentoring of others, while commendable, do not diminish the cruelty and destruction he has inflicted on so many," Schwarzenegger said in a statement.
Christopher Hughes' mother said the governor's office faxed a copy of his decision to the family. The mother, Mary Ann Hughes, said she hoped now that Cooper would be executed when scheduled.
"It's got the governor's blessing now, that's key," she said.
No California governor has granted clemency to a condemned murderer since Ronald Reagan (search) in 1967 spared the life of a severely brain-damaged killer.
Maintaining his innocence during 18 years of appeals, Cooper succeeded in having DNA tests conducted on evidence at the scene, but the tests indicated he was the killer.
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Amazing. The first thing that popped in my mind when I read this was "What would Gray Davis have done?" The answer is a no brainer. Thanks for sharing and WAY TO GO CALIFORNIA!
Maintaining his innocence during 18 years of appeals, Cooper succeeded in having DNA tests conducted on evidence at the scene, but the tests indicated he was the killer.
So the taxpayers picked up this idiots tab for 18 years while he diligently worked to conclusively prove himself GUILTY. That's not something you read everyday.
YEAH I READ ABOUT THAT IN MY PAPER HERE IN CALI YOU KNOW SOME FOLKS IN MY TOWN DONT BELEIVE THAT THE GUY SHOULD BE EXECUTED BUT THEY ARE BIAS TOWARD ARNIE ANYWAYS JUST LIKE HIP IS WITH BUSH.
Schwarzenegger Denies Clemency to Murderer
