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ABA says Kevin Cooper prosecutors withheld evidence from Newsom's team sfchronicle.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from sfchronicle.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Gov. Gavin Newsom has ordered an independent investigation into the death-row case of Kevin Cooper. From day one, Cooper has steadfastly asserted his innocence in the 1983 quadruple murder he was sentenced to death for. He was convicted in 1985 of the murders of Doug and Peggy Ryen, their 10-year-old daughter, Jessica Ryen and 11-year-old neighbor, Chris Hughes. Joshua Ryen, then 8 years old, was the only survivor of the crime and told investigators that it was three white men who carried out the brutal murders. Despite Ryen’s eyewitness account, and other compelling evidence, Cooper, a Black man, was convicted and sentenced to be murdered by the state of California. ....
Cooper has served over 35 years on death row at San Quentin State Prison for the crimes. “Mr. Cooper maintains that he is innocent of the crimes of which he was convicted and contends that the evidence introduced at trial against him was manufactured, mishandled, planted, tampered with, or otherwise tainted by law enforcement,” said Newsom in executive order N-06-21, which he signed on May 28. ....
California Governor Gavin Newsom has ordered an independent investigation into the case of Kevin Cooper, who has consistently maintained his innocence in the 1983 quadruple-murder for which he was sentenced to death. Newsom’s May 28, 2021 executive order appoints the law firm Morrison and Foerster, LLP as Special Counsel to the California Board of Parole Hearings and directs the firm to “conduct a full review of the trial and appellate records in [Cooper’s] case and of the facts underlying the conviction.” Newsom’s order issued in conjunction with 14 pardons, 13 commutations, and 8 medical reprieves granted in other cases directs Morrison and Foerster “to investigate, report, and make a recommendation” concerning Cooper’s application for clemency and claims of innocence. It also specifies that the firm’s investigation include an “evaluation” of “recently conducted DNA tests.” ....