Richard Farley - Aftermath

Aftermath

The next day, court commissioner Lois Kittle made the restraining order against Farley permanent. Commissioner Kittle, through tears, offered this comment: "Pieces of paper do not stop bullets."

Laura Black survived, but was hospitalized for nineteen days. She continued to work for the same company. Farley wrote to her again from his prison cell, claiming that she had finally won.

During trial, Farley admitted to the killings, but pleaded "not guilty", claiming that he never planned to kill but only wished to get Black's attention or commit suicide in front of her for rejecting him. His attorney claimed that Farley never was a violent man and only had his judgment temporarily clouded by his obsession with Laura Black, and that Farley would likely never kill again. Prior to the shooting, Farley had no criminal record.

The prosecution documented every step of the stalking, produced all the letters he sent, and documented his shotgun and ammunition purchases a week before his rampage at ESL, as well as his other weapons. All this amounted to extensive planning, which was evidence of premeditation.

On October 21, 1991, Farley was convicted of all seven counts of first degree murder. Superior Court Judge Joseph Biafore Jr. sentenced Farley to death. Because of California law, there are several automatic appeals. As of 2012, Farley is on death row in San Quentin Prison.

On July 2, 2009 the California Supreme Court upheld Farley's death sentence (People v Farley (2009) 46 Cal.4th 1053).

In the wake of this case and the high profile murder of actress Rebecca Schaeffer, California passed the first anti-stalking laws in the nation.