Her mother’s killer was freed because of cancer. She wants to change California’s laws

At a hearing in the summer, San Diego County Superior Court Judge John Thompson wrestled with the decision before him. According to court documents, 78-year-old Tomasini’s cancer had metastasized, and he is facing “an end-of-life trajectory.” He now resides in a healthcare facility that offers palliative care, paid for by taxpayers. Both Thompson, a veteran judge who called Shojai’s death a “horrific” crime, and the San Diego County district attorney’s office questioned prison officials’ assessment of Tomasini’s public safety risk. For every case such as Tomasini’s, there are several more in which people who advocates believe pose no threat to the public are unwell and kept behind bars, said Su Kim, senior policy manager for Uncommon Law, an organization that supports prisoners and In 2021, 306 people were referred for compassionate release, but 95 died before the process could be completed, according to state data. The new law, San Diego County Public Defender Katie Belisle said, “really limits the court’s discretion in compassionate release.”