California Supreme Court Reverses Death Sentence Of Sandi Nieves In 1998 Murders Of 4 Young Daughter

[PeteS in CA]

California Supreme Court Reverses Death Sentence Of Sandi Nieves In 1998 Murders Of 4 Young Daughters

https://losangeles.cbslocal.com/2021/05/03/california-supreme-court-reverses-death-sentence-sandi-nieves-1998-murders-4-young-daughters/

LOS ANGELES (CBSLA) — The death sentence of a Santa Clarita woman who murdered her four young daughters in an arson fire more than two decades ago was reversed Monday by the California Supreme Court.

Sandi Dawn Nieves’ conviction for the killings was upheld, but the court reversed the death sentence “due to the trial court’s misconduct.”

Nieves was convicted of first-degree murder, attempted murder of her 14-year-old son, and arson and sentenced to death for the July 1, 1998 deaths of 12-year-old Nikolet Amber Nieves, 11-year-old Rashel Hollie Nieves, 7-year-old Kristl Dawn Folden, and 5-year-old Marie Folden. The girls died from inhaling soot, smoke and carbon monoxide. The jury also found true the special circumstance allegations of multiple murders, murder while lying in wait and murder during an arson.

California’s high court cited the late Superior Court Judge L. Jeffrey Wiatt’s “inappropriate comments throughout the trial” and said they increased in frequency during the penalty phase and “included threats and disparaging comments whose timing interfered with both the opening statement and closing argument for the defense.”

WTH?! The court did not overturn the conviction, though the original judge had made inappropriate comments during the trial phase. How did the judge's inappropriate comments magically become critically relevant during the penalty phase?!

CA may need Rose Bird Ouster 2.0!

[GtHawk]

California Supreme Court Reverses Death Sentence Of Sandi Nieves In 1998 Murders Of 4 Young Daughters

https://losangeles.cbslocal.com/2021/05/03/california-supreme-court-reverses-death-sentence-sandi-nieves-1998-murders-4-young-daughters/

WTH?! The court did not overturn the conviction, though the original judge had made inappropriate comments during the trial phase. How did the judge's inappropriate comments magically become critically relevant during the penalty phase?!

CA may need Rose Bird Ouster 2.0!

As I commented on a earlier thread, California's two biggest problems are taxes and a broken judicial system. And no word on whether the penalty phase would be retried, though I would not be surprised if somehow she gets released on time served, you know Covid risk and liberal compassion for everyone but the victims.

[skeeter]

California Supreme Court Reverses Death Sentence Of Sandi Nieves In 1998 Murders Of 4 Young Daughters

CA may need Rose Bird Ouster 2.0!

That would be nice, but I'm afraid CA's demographics have changed too much since 1988. There'll be no more recalls to speak of, no more prop 187s or prop 13s. We are far more fractured as a society today, too easily led. We've got nothing in common with each other.