Child Advocate Klaas Loses Cool In Testimony On Death Penalty Bills

SACRAMENTO (CBS13) - Child advocate Marc Klaas lashed out at lawmakers Tuesday at the Capitol, where two bills aimed at streamlining the death penalty process were rejected.

"How much does it cost to let this go on year after year?" he demanded of lawmakers. "How much does it cost to house Richard Allen Davis on death row?"

"I guess you can call it testimony," he later told CBS13. "I said what I came to say, certainly."

But Klaas' microphone was turned off in the middle of his tirade.

"I suppose some of the words I used may have offended certain members of the committee," he said.

He stormed out, angered after the Public Safety Committee killed two bills that would speed up the death penalty process.

"They're the worst people on earth, committed the worst crimes, but they have an entre Legislature here in Sacramento hell bent on protecting them," he said.

Klaas is still waiting for justice for his 12-year-old daughter, Polly, who was kidnapped and killed in the early 1990s. Her killer, Davis, waits on his second appeal.

"His definition of safe sex was to kidnap, rape and kill my child," Klaas testified. "He's been on death row longer than she's been alive. He fantasizes about her. He's admitted that on a regular basis."

Klaas' reasons for his plea are clear. As for the chairman's reasons for turning off his microphone?

"The chairman handled it perfectly," said Tony Beard, chief sergeant at arms. "Mr. Klaas handled it, he was letting his feelings be known."

Beard said an officer stepped toward Klaas as a matter of protocol, but instead of escorting him out, Klaas left on his own.

"It's not unusual," Beard said. "We're prepared for their feelings to be expressed. Sometimes it's appropriate and sometimes it gets loud, and that does change the decorum of the room."

Even an hour after the incident, Klaas' rage was evident.

"Today's probably the most frustrating moment I've ever had in the California state Legislature," he said.

But he vowed to keep fighting.