Judge Denies Richard Allen Davis's Request to Overturn Death Sentence

Convicted of murdering Polly Klaas in 1993, Davis's bid faced opposition despite recent legal changes.

Richard Allen Davis's motion to recall his death sentence has been denied by a California judge.
Davis was sentenced to death in 1996 for the 1993 kidnapping and murder of 12-year-old Polly Klaas.
The denial follows a 2022 law invalidating some sentencing enhancements, which Davis's attorneys cited in their request.
Polly Klaas's murder led to the enactment of California's 'three strikes' law in 1994.
California has not executed any inmates since 2006, despite a 2016 ballot measure to expedite executions.