SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) - The Latest on California Gov. Gavin Newsom’s death penalty moratorium (all times local):
2 p.m.
A spokesman for Gov. Gavin Newsom says the governor sends his “heartfelt condolences” to the family members of victims killed by people now on death row.
Spokesman Jesse Melgar says Newsom met with many survivor families before making his decision to grant reprieve to the more than 700 people on California’s death row. He says some of those families supported the death penalty while others believed the state shouldn’t kill.
His remarks are in response to a Thursday press conference by district attorneys and victims’ families urging Newsom to reverse course.
The Democratic governor’s moratorium means no one will be executed while he is in office. Newsom says the death penalty is applied unevenly and risks killing an innocent person.
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12:30 p.m.
Families of Californians murdered by people now on death row are launching a statewide tour to urge Gov. Gavin Newsom to reverse his moratorium on executions.
It kicked off Thursday with district attorneys and parents sharing gruesome details of their loved ones’ murders.
Newsom has issued a reprieve to the more than 700 people on California’s death row, halting executions will he is governor. California has not executed anyone since 2006 and voters passed a ballot measure in 2016 to speed up the process.
Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer says Newsom should decide whether the convicted murderers deserve clemency on an individual basis.
Newsom’s office did not immediately comment. He’s said the death penalty is applied unevenly and the state risks killing innocent people.
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