Capital Punishment Debate

I'm in favor of capital punishment when the murder is vicious and full of malice. I also believe that the state should execute those that show no remorse and ask for forgiveness from the familyt and friends.
So, I want to ask this question in the execution of Stanley "Tookie" Williams. He was convicted in 1981. Why has it taken him 24 years, half of his life, to finally say he was innocent of the crimes. Why have people only come forward in the past three weeks in opposition of his execution? Whether Williams did it or not is only left up to a higher judge to decide? I am more disgusted at the people who only came out recently in support of him, turning it into a sensational news stories. Where were these people from Day 1 of his conviction? Where was Snoop Dogg years ago when he finally realize that being a gang member wasn't that great? Why hasn't Rev. Jesse Jackson been preaching about this for the past three decades?

I know Gov. Schwarzenegger might not be as popular after this, but that's what a leader must do sometimes.