State Supreme Court Upholds Death Sentence in Klaas Case
Davis
Davis challenged his conviction and sentence on the grounds that his confession was illegally obtained and that his trial in San Clara County  Calif.  was tainted by pretrial publicity.
 Marc Klaas  Polly's father  expressed frustration Monday that Davis' appeals were taking too long. He noted that Polly would be 28 now had she lived.
Davis' appeals were taking too long. He noted that Polly would be 28 now had she lived.
 "I have no doubt that this guy is going to outlive me " said Klaas  60.
 Davis has a constitutional challenge pending before the state high court. Once that is resolved  he can challenge his conviction and sentence in federal court.
 Assistant California Attorney General Ronald Matthias  who successfully opposed DavisDavis' appeal  said federal appeals could take 10 to 15 years.
 In writing for the court  Justice Joyce L. Kennard recounted DavisDavis' reaction when a jury found him guilty of Polly's murder.
 Davis "turned toward the television cameras in the courtroom and made an obscene gesture with both hands by extending his middle fingers " Kennard wrote. "He then winked his eye and blew a kiss."
 Davis kidnapped Polly from her bedroom at her home in Petaluma  Calif.  where she was having a slumber party with two other girls. Her mother and a younger half-sister were sleeping down the hall.
 Davis had a long and violent criminal record  and his history helped fuel voter support for a 1994 three-strikes initiative in California that required sentences of 25 years to life in prison for a third felony after two violent felonies.
[TGT] challenged [TGT] conviction and sentence on the grounds that [TGT] confession was illegally obtained and that [TGT] trial in San Clara County  Calif.  was tainted by pretrial publicity.
 Marc Klaas  Polly's father  expressed frustration Monday that [TGT]' appeals were taking too long. He noted that Polly would be 28 now had she lived.
[TGT]' appeals were taking too long. He noted that Polly would be 28 now had she lived.
 "I have no doubt that [TGT] is going to outlive me " said Klaas  60.
 [TGT] has a constitutional challenge pending before the state high court. Once that is resolved  [TGT] can challenge [TGT] conviction and sentence in federal court.
 Assistant California Attorney General Ronald Matthias  who successfully opposed [TGT] appeal  said federal appeals could take 10 to 15 years.
 In writing for the court  Justice Joyce L. Kennard recounted [TGT] reaction when a jury found him guilty of Polly's murder.
 [TGT] "turned toward the television cameras in the courtroom and made an obscene gesture with both hands by extending [TGT] middle fingers " Kennard wrote. "[TGT] then winked [TGT] eye and blew a kiss."
 [TGT] kidnapped Polly from her bedroom at her home in Petaluma  Calif.  where she was having a slumber party with two other girls. Her mother and a younger half-sister were sleeping down the hall.
 [TGT] had a long and violent criminal record  and [TGT] history helped fuel voter support for a 1994 three-strikes initiative in California that required sentences of 25 years to life in prison for a third felony after two violent felonies.