>> we were working against the clock. we had to file up to the california supreme court saying that kevin had been denied his rights and that the prosecution had been improper. >> cooper's arguments hinged on accusations of planted evidence and alternate suspects who were never pursued. cooper also appealed to governor schwarzenegger for clemency. >> for the clemency petition, a number of the jurors came forward and said they were very uncomfortable, now that they had learned about all the things that had surfaced since the trial. peggy ryen's sister even wrote a letter to the governor saying she believed kevin was not the killer and that they should not execute him. >> ten days before the execution, governor schwarzenegger made his decision. >> arnold schwarzenegger has made his first live or die decision as california governor. he rejected pleas to spare the life of a convicted killer.