Most of all, the death penalty is absolute. It’s irreversible and irreparable in the event of human error,” said the governor.
His office noted that some innocent people received death sentences in California. Since 1973, five inmates condemned of death penalty in the state were freed after they were found to be wrongly convicted.
Last month, Newsom signed an executive order allowing the retesting of additional DNA evidences in the case involving inmate Kevin Cooper, who was condemned of death penalty. The governor ordered the use of the most scientifically reliable DNA collection and analysis methodologies. Last year, former Gov. Jerry Brown also ordered a limited testing of four evidences in the case.
Newsom and Brown’s purpose is to make sure that all relevant evidences in the case are “carefully and fairly examined.
The executions in California have been halted since 2006 when an inmate facing death penalty challenged the state’s protocols for lethal injection. A judge is reviewing the state’s latest execution protocol, which could be approved soon.
