Man convicted in San Jose ‘thrill kill’ released, touching off polarized reactions

SAN JOSE — A man convicted as a teen nearly a decade ago in a San Jose “thrill kill” murder case was freed this week, reviving wounds for the victim’s family and a contentious split over the juvenile justice reform law that paved the way for his release. Jae Williams, now 29, was ordered released Monday at a juvenile court hearing in San Jose, and walked out of the Santa Clara County jail the following day. The release follows a multi-year court battle over the constitutionality of Senate Bill 1391 — a state law passed in 2018 that outlawed charging teens under 16 as adults in criminal court —...