CONCLUSION
Stanley Williams does not deserve the mercy of clemency. The evidence clearly
establishes that Stanley Williams shot-gunned Albert Owens, Yen-I Yang, Tsai-Shai Yang, and
Yee-Chen Lin to death. These murders were truly horrific.
What man orders another human being to lie face down on the floor and then proceeds
to shoot him two times in the back at close range with a shotgun? What man later laughs when
he tells his friends how the victim gurgled as he lay dying? Stanley Williams, the admitted cofounder
of one of the most violent gangs in existence, is that man. What man, days after shotgunning
Albert Owens to death, forces his way into a motel and executes three members of a
single family? Stanley Williams is that man.
One can only imagine Albert Owens’ terror as he lay face down on the floor of the
storage room at the 7-Eleven and heard the first shotgun blast that was fired into the security
monitor. Was he hoping against hope he would not be shot to death? Was he thinking of his
two young daughters and whether he would ever see them again, hold them again, tell them
how much he loved them again?
Before crossing paths with Stanley Williams, Albert Owens had proudly served in the
United States military. He had fathered two beautiful daughters. He had recently moved to Los
Angeles to make a better life for him and his family. Stanley Williams took that dream away.
He took it away from Albert, his daughters, and his entire family. (P. Exh. 28; P. Exh. 29).
Imagine the fear that engulfed Yen-I Yang, Tsai-Shai Yang, and their daughter, Yee-
Chin Lin as they experienced their last moments alive. Imagine the terror and despair of Robert
Yang, the son of Yen-I and Tsai-Shai Yang and the sister of Yee-Chin Lin. Robert testified at
Williams’ trial that he heard the sound of someone breaking into the motel, followed by
screaming and gunshots. When Robert entered the motel office he saw all of his family dead or
dying as a result of the shots fired by Stanley Williams.
Tsai-Shai Yang came to America in 1973 in search of a better life. Her husband, Yen-I,
arrived a short time later. In July 1975, the Yangs purchased the Brookhaven Motel. Tsai-Shai
and Yen-I ran the motel with their son Robert. At the time of their murders, in addition to
Robert, the Yangs had five other children. They also had ten grandchildren.
Yee-Chin Lin was visiting from Taiwan when Stanley Williams murdered her. Yee-
Chin was married with three children, a 10 year old daughter, a 13 year old son, and a 14 year
old son. When Stanley Williams shot-gunned Yen-I Yang, Tsai-Shai Yang, and Yee-Chin Lin
to death, he not only took their lives, he stole the hopes and aspirations of the entire Yang
family. Little did Yee-Chin’s children know that when they said good-bye to their mother as
she left Taiwan for a short visit to America, she would never again return home.
In the petition filed in support of Williams’ request for clemency, the claim is made that
Stanley Williams is today a different man. Even if that were the case, the jury’s determination
that Williams suffer the penalty of death for his crimes was appropriate and should be carried
out. Additionally, Williams has never accepted responsibility for the murders of Albert Owens,
Yen-I Yang, Tsai-Shai Yang, and Yee-Chen Lin, nor has he accepted responsibility for the
devastation of their respective families. Williams claims he cannot accept responsibility for
these murders because he is innocent. A thorough review of the evidence simply does not
support Williams’ claim of innocence.
Additionally, Williams has never accepted his responsibility for his plot to escape from
the Los Angeles County Jail while awaiting trial. Does an innocent man, a man who is
represented by an experienced attorney of his own choosing, plot to escape from custody prior
to his trial? This plot to escape from custody involved the plan to kill two sheriff’s deputies,
witness Alfred “Blackie” Coward, and the other inmates on the bus. Moreover, this plot to
escape from custody and commit additional murders was proven beyond any possible doubt by
Williams’ own words, including “[a]s for Blackie hes (sic) only he (sic) heart beat away from
death.”
What must not be forgotten is that Williams’ escape plan also called for using dynamite
to blow up the sheriff’s transportation bus after he escaped from custody. Williams’ motive to
murder all of his fellow inmates on the bus was to prolong his time to escape. In other words,
he hoped to prevent the authorities from quickly discovering who, if anyone, had escaped from
custody. In an act so demonstrative of Williams’ willingness to kill, he was going to commit
mass murder by dynamite, simply to allow himself more time to escape. These are not the
actions of a man of peace. Instead, these are the actions of a cold-blooded predator who puts no
value on life, unless it is his own.
The petition for clemency filed on Williams’ behalf further contends that he has turned
his back on the gang lifestyle of his younger years. However, Williams’ refusal to debrief
proves otherwise. As Vernell Crittendon explained on 60 Minutes, if Williams debriefed it
would send a powerful message to those who look up to Williams and seek to emulate him.
Williams’ refusal to debrief, and his characterization of the debriefing process as
“snitching” clearly shows that Williams has not turned his back on the Crips gang, a gang he
co-founded. No doubt Williams could provide substantial, in-depth insight into the history and
structure of the Crips gang. Additionally, there can be little doubt that Williams could provide
significant information relating to many unsolved crimes, including murders both inside and
outside the prison walls. This information would help bring closure and some sense of justice
to the families of many, many victims.
In the Killing of Bonnie Garland, Willard Gaylin, a psychiatrist, wrote that when a
murder is committed there is an “. . . immediate revulsion at the nature of the crime.” However,
as Dr. Gaylin explained, the victim soon “. . . ceases to exist as an identifiable figure.” As time
passes “. . . the ongoing reality is the criminal” and ultimately the criminal “. . . usurps the
compassion that is justly his victim’s due.”
Governor, do not allow Stanley Williams to usurp the compassion that is due Albert
Owens. Do not allow Stanley Williams to usurp the compassion that is due Yen-I Yang. Do
not allow Stanley Williams to usurp the compassion that is due Tsai-Shai Yang. And do not
allow Stanley Williams to usurp the compassion that is due Yee-Chen Lin. Williams has
already taken their lives and devastated their families. Stanley Williams does not deserve your
sympathy, leniency, or mercy.
The People respectfully request that the Williams’ petition for clemency be denied and
that the death sentence imposed by the jury almost twenty-five years ago, and affirmed by
every reviewing court, now be carried out.
Dated: November 16, 2005
Respectfully submitted,
STEVE COOLEY
District Attorney
By:_________________________
JOHN MONAGHAN
Assistant Head Deputy District Attorney
By:_________________________
DAVID WALGREN
Deputy District Attorney
The penalty is Just. The man brought this upon himself. He deserves the sentence that has been handed out to him.
Stanley Williams does not deserve the mercy of clemency. The evidence clearly
establishes that Stanley Williams shot-gunned Albert Owens, Yen-I Yang, Tsai-Shai Yang, and
Yee-Chen Lin to death. These murders were truly horrific.
What man orders another human being to lie face down on the floor and then proceeds
to shoot him two times in the back at close range with a shotgun? What man later laughs when
he tells his friends how the victim gurgled as he lay dying? Stanley Williams, the admitted cofounder
of one of the most violent gangs in existence, is that man. What man, days after shotgunning
Albert Owens to death, forces his way into a motel and executes three members of a
single family? Stanley Williams is that man.
One can only imagine Albert Owens’ terror as he lay face down on the floor of the
storage room at the 7-Eleven and heard the first shotgun blast that was fired into the security
monitor. Was he hoping against hope he would not be shot to death? Was he thinking of his
two young daughters and whether he would ever see them again, hold them again, tell them
how much he loved them again?
Before crossing paths with Stanley Williams, Albert Owens had proudly served in the
United States military. He had fathered two beautiful daughters. He had recently moved to Los
Angeles to make a better life for him and his family. Stanley Williams took that dream away.
He took it away from Albert, his daughters, and his entire family. (P. Exh. 28; P. Exh. 29).
Imagine the fear that engulfed Yen-I Yang, Tsai-Shai Yang, and their daughter, Yee-
Chin Lin as they experienced their last moments alive. Imagine the terror and despair of Robert
Yang, the son of Yen-I and Tsai-Shai Yang and the sister of Yee-Chin Lin. Robert testified at
Williams’ trial that he heard the sound of someone breaking into the motel, followed by
screaming and gunshots. When Robert entered the motel office he saw all of his family dead or
dying as a result of the shots fired by Stanley Williams.
Tsai-Shai Yang came to America in 1973 in search of a better life. Her husband, Yen-I,
arrived a short time later. In July 1975, the Yangs purchased the Brookhaven Motel. Tsai-Shai
and Yen-I ran the motel with their son Robert. At the time of their murders, in addition to
Robert, the Yangs had five other children. They also had ten grandchildren.
Yee-Chin Lin was visiting from Taiwan when Stanley Williams murdered her. Yee-
Chin was married with three children, a 10 year old daughter, a 13 year old son, and a 14 year
old son. When Stanley Williams shot-gunned Yen-I Yang, Tsai-Shai Yang, and Yee-Chin Lin
to death, he not only took their lives, he stole the hopes and aspirations of the entire Yang
family. Little did Yee-Chin’s children know that when they said good-bye to their mother as
she left Taiwan for a short visit to America, she would never again return home.
In the petition filed in support of Williams’ request for clemency, the claim is made that
Stanley Williams is today a different man. Even if that were the case, the jury’s determination
that Williams suffer the penalty of death for his crimes was appropriate and should be carried
out. Additionally, Williams has never accepted responsibility for the murders of Albert Owens,
Yen-I Yang, Tsai-Shai Yang, and Yee-Chen Lin, nor has he accepted responsibility for the
devastation of their respective families. Williams claims he cannot accept responsibility for
these murders because he is innocent. A thorough review of the evidence simply does not
support Williams’ claim of innocence.
Additionally, Williams has never accepted his responsibility for his plot to escape from
the Los Angeles County Jail while awaiting trial. Does an innocent man, a man who is
represented by an experienced attorney of his own choosing, plot to escape from custody prior
to his trial? This plot to escape from custody involved the plan to kill two sheriff’s deputies,
witness Alfred “Blackie” Coward, and the other inmates on the bus. Moreover, this plot to
escape from custody and commit additional murders was proven beyond any possible doubt by
Williams’ own words, including “[a]s for Blackie hes (sic) only he (sic) heart beat away from
death.”
What must not be forgotten is that Williams’ escape plan also called for using dynamite
to blow up the sheriff’s transportation bus after he escaped from custody. Williams’ motive to
murder all of his fellow inmates on the bus was to prolong his time to escape. In other words,
he hoped to prevent the authorities from quickly discovering who, if anyone, had escaped from
custody. In an act so demonstrative of Williams’ willingness to kill, he was going to commit
mass murder by dynamite, simply to allow himself more time to escape. These are not the
actions of a man of peace. Instead, these are the actions of a cold-blooded predator who puts no
value on life, unless it is his own.
The petition for clemency filed on Williams’ behalf further contends that he has turned
his back on the gang lifestyle of his younger years. However, Williams’ refusal to debrief
proves otherwise. As Vernell Crittendon explained on 60 Minutes, if Williams debriefed it
would send a powerful message to those who look up to Williams and seek to emulate him.
Williams’ refusal to debrief, and his characterization of the debriefing process as
“snitching” clearly shows that Williams has not turned his back on the Crips gang, a gang he
co-founded. No doubt Williams could provide substantial, in-depth insight into the history and
structure of the Crips gang. Additionally, there can be little doubt that Williams could provide
significant information relating to many unsolved crimes, including murders both inside and
outside the prison walls. This information would help bring closure and some sense of justice
to the families of many, many victims.
In the Killing of Bonnie Garland, Willard Gaylin, a psychiatrist, wrote that when a
murder is committed there is an “. . . immediate revulsion at the nature of the crime.” However,
as Dr. Gaylin explained, the victim soon “. . . ceases to exist as an identifiable figure.” As time
passes “. . . the ongoing reality is the criminal” and ultimately the criminal “. . . usurps the
compassion that is justly his victim’s due.”
Governor, do not allow Stanley Williams to usurp the compassion that is due Albert
Owens. Do not allow Stanley Williams to usurp the compassion that is due Yen-I Yang. Do
not allow Stanley Williams to usurp the compassion that is due Tsai-Shai Yang. And do not
allow Stanley Williams to usurp the compassion that is due Yee-Chen Lin. Williams has
already taken their lives and devastated their families. Stanley Williams does not deserve your
sympathy, leniency, or mercy.
The People respectfully request that the Williams’ petition for clemency be denied and
that the death sentence imposed by the jury almost twenty-five years ago, and affirmed by
every reviewing court, now be carried out.
Dated: November 16, 2005
Respectfully submitted,
STEVE COOLEY
District Attorney
By:_________________________
JOHN MONAGHAN
Assistant Head Deputy District Attorney
By:_________________________
DAVID WALGREN
Deputy District Attorney
The penalty is Just. The man brought this upon himself. He deserves the sentence that has been handed out to him.
