Gavin Newsom: “It's immoral for the state to murder somebody and that it isn't applied fairly anyway.”

State-sanctioned killing is incompatible with California’s values

Because the death penalty is inherently incompatible with our legal system's commitment to justice, I have determined that this clemency decision, while difficult in many respects, will ultimately affirm the strength and integrity of our…

Some have said I should not grant clemency to people who committed the worst of the worst crimes … I have learned, however, from speaking with the victims harmed by these crimes, that each experiences their loss as the worst of the worst.

For this reason, I am compelled to follow my conscience and, as authorised by our Constitution, take this action for the welfare of the State of California.