‘Dangerous’ release: Convicted murderer and ex-CCPD officer to walk free under ‘compassionate release’ policy

Convicted murderer Luis Hassan, found guilty of the 1990 murder of his girlfriend, Kristina Lazzarini, is set to be released under California's new compassionate release law.

Hassan, a former Cathedral City police officer, was convicted of shooting Kristina in the head on her 27th birthday and staging the scene to look like a suicide.

Steve Lazzarini, Kristina's brother, said the murder has ripped his family apart. "My brother ended up committing suicide, and as well as my mom did years after that. And so it's not just one murder this guy's done. It's three," he said.

The murder happened 33 years ago in a Cathedral City neighborhood. Hassan is scheduled to be released from prison into a Beaumont neighborhood.

He has served 26 years of his 30 years to life sentence and is eligible for release due to California's "compassionate release" bill signed into law last year. The law allows for inmates who are seriously ill and facing imminent death to walk free.

Riverside County District Attorney Mike Hestrin strongly opposes the compassionate release policy. "The law, although maybe well-intentioned, provides no guardrails," he said.

Hassan, 78, was granted compassionate release by a judge after being diagnosed with a chronic lung disease. A state corrections doctor claimed he has only 12 months to live.

Hestrin's office filed opposition to Hassan's release, asserting that he still poses a danger to the public. "There's really no evidence in the record that indicates that he's on death's door, that he's going to die sometime soon," Hestrin said. "We're talking about someone who's convicted of a terrible heinous crime of taking another human being's life."

When questioned about his concerns, Hestrin expressed worry about possibility of a re-offense and the lack of supervision once Hassan is released. "We have no way of knowing, no ankle monitoring, no one to check in with, no one to watch him whatsoever. Just, you're out the door. And that's it," he said.

In an effort to keep Hassan behind bars, Kristina's family initiated a petition that has garnered more than 1200 signatures. They hope to persuade the judge in this case to reverse the decision to release him.

"Why are they getting another day? Get out and enjoy everything? Order pizza, watch a movie be on the computer. Why did they get to do that? My sister didn't get to do that. She's been gone for 33 years," Steve Lazzarini said "I don't understand what compassion is when you've taken somebody's life."

Hestrin said a judge ordered the DA's office to monitor Hassan upon his release, but that they lack the jurisdiction to do so. He said that the new compassionate release law leaves communities vulnerable to criminals, and suggested that California lawmakers may not fully comprehend the real-world consequences of their policies.

It is unclear exactly when Hassan is expected to be released, although the District Attorney's office indicated he has plans to live with a friend – in Beaumont,