Onion Field Murder Trials: 1963-69 - Death Penalty Decision
wambaugh joseph book
In March 1972, seven years after the murder, the California Supreme Court, considering the trial of Robert P. Anderson, ruled that the death penalty was cruel and unusual punishment. All death sentences were automatically commuted.
The next year, Joseph Wambaugh, a Los Angeles detective sergeant who had published two previous police procedural novels, wrote another book. That book, The Onion Field, was what author Truman Capote called a "non-fiction novel." It was a powerful indictment of both the judicial system and the LAPD hierarchy. It became a best-seller and a major factor in the trend toward reinstating the death penalty in the United States.
—William Weir
Suggestions for Further Reading
Wambaugh, Joseph. The Onion Field. New York: Delacorte Press, 1973.
User Comments
almost 3 years ago
In 1982, after leading a successful effort to rescind the parole date for convicted assassin Sirhan Sirhan, as founder of Citizens for Truth, I launched a petition drive to rescind the parole of "Onion Field" murderer Gregory Powell. In 3 1/2 weeks our group gathered 31,500 signatures which led to a parole rescision hearing. We ultimately took our case to the state appellate court and then on to the California Supreme Court, finally successful in keeping Powell behind bars. We received significant help from the daughter of Powell's victim, LA Police Officer Ian Campbell, Valerie, as well as then-state Senator Omer Rains. We were all outraged that this known-dangerous felon, originally sentenced to death, was granted a parole date. If anyone can provide information on Valerie Campbell (maiden name) I would greatly appreciate it, having lost touch over the years.