All death sentences commuted in California; outrage among families

California Governor Gavin Newsom has commuted the sentences of all 548 prisoners who had been sentenced to death in his state to life without parole. The decision, taken with just two months left before he leaves office, has caused intense anger among victims' families.

It includes the death sentence of Richard Allen Davis, who abducted and murdered 12-year-old Polly Klaas in 1993. 'This is like a knife stabbed in my back,' her father Marc Klaas said angrily.

Newsom explained in an open letter that death carried out on behalf of the state is contrary to California's values. He acknowledged that the decision would cause pain to many families.

Klaas accused the decision of rejecting verdicts that hundreds of juries had delivered after long deliberation. He also pointed out that California voters had rejected ballot propositions to abolish the death penalty in 2012 and 2016.

However, some victims' family members, including Polly's sisters, have welcomed the decision. 'The government need not honour the anger of the bereaved by killing someone in our name,' said her sister Annie Nichol. Groups opposed to the death penalty praised it as a historic victory.

The California Supreme Court must approve these commutation decisions in 382 cases. Opposition groups have announced they will challenge the move in court.