Richardson wants reconsideration of killer’s sentence

OUTCRY — TONIGHT GOVERNOR BILL RICHARDSON IS ASKING A JUDGE TO RE-CONSIDER THE SENTENCE FOR THE EX-MARINE LOCKED UP FOR KILLING A MAN WHO BROKE INTO HIS GARAGE IF THE JUDGE REFUSES THE GOVERNOR IS THREATENING TO PARDON ELTON JOHN RICHARD — TO LET HIM GO ERIC KAHNERT IS LIVE AT DISTRICT COURT DOWNTOWN TO SORT IT ALL OUT ERIC LAST FRIDAY RIGHT HERE JUDGE PAT MURDOCH SENTENCED RICHARD TO TWO YEARS FOR KILLING A MAN TRYING TO STEAL HIS CAR NOW THE GOVERNOR IS DEMANDING JUDGE MURDOCH RE-THINK HIS PUNISHMENT LESS THAN A WEEK AFTER ELTON JOHN RICHARD WAS HAULED OFF TO PRISON FOR KILLING A SUSPECTED CAR THIEF TONIGHT HE FOUND OUT IT S POSSIBLE HE MAY GET OUT A SPOKESMAN SAYS Governor Richardson is urging the judge in this case to re- evaluate the harsh sentence and should the judge not take this step the Governor is willing to consider a request for executive clemency THAT MEANS THE GOVERNOR COULD REDUCE RICHARD S SENTENCE OR EVEN LET HIM WALK RICHARDSON HAS REQUESTED INFORMATION ON THE CASE FROM DISTRICT ATTORNEY KARI BRANDENBURG 3 06 he s urging the judge in this case to re-evaluate the harsh sentence your reaction to that Well I think the governor has his right to his own opinion -8 RICHARD PLEADED NO CONTEST TO VOLUNTARY MANSLAUGHTER HE CHASED 34 YEAR OLD DANIEL ROMERO FOUR BLOCKS AND SHOT HIM TO DEATH THAT WAS AFTER HE CAUGHT ROMERO TRYING TO STEAL HIS CAR AT HIS WESTSIDE HOME IN 2004 WE COULDN T GET A HOLD OF JUDGE PAT MURDOCH TONIGHT ABOUT THE GOVERNOR S REQUEST BUT THIS IS WHAT HE SAID LAST FRIDAY There is no right thing to do everything that I could do in this case would be wrong Sending Mr Richard to 6 years in prison would be wrong Letting him walk out of this courtroom on probation would be wrong AFTER SENTENCING RICHARD TO TWO YEARS IN PRISON THE GOVERNOR S OFFICE WAS FLOODED WITH CALLS 5 39 i think it was a hot button issue because people didn t understand it -3 BRANDENBURG STANDS BY THE JUDGE S DECISION 8 58 it didn t happen inside the home it didn t happen in the garage it didn t happen in the front yard it happened a quarter of a mile from the house -9 THE CONTROVERSY HAS PUSHED ALBUQUERQUE ATTORNEY LISA TORRACO TO ANNOUNCE SHE S RUNNING AGAINST BRANDENBURG FOR D-A SAYING SHE WOULD NOT HAVE SOUGHT PRISON TIME FOR RICHARD TONIGHT BRANDENBURG TOLD ME THIS ISSUE — SHOULDN T BE USED FOR POLITICAL GAIN REPORTING LIVE DOWNTOWN EKEYWN4