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Alabama governor commutes death sentence of inmate whose accomplice fired fatal shot
Governor Ivey cited fairness concerns and the disparity in punishment as the reason for commuting Burton's sentence, marking her second clemency since 2017.
- On Tuesday, Gov. Kay Ivey, Governor of Alabama, commuted Charles L. Burton's death sentence to life without parole, halting his Thursday scheduled execution.
- The governor cited a sentencing disparity because evidence shows Charles L. Burton left before the shooting and Derrick DeBruce, the triggerman, received life imprisonment.
- The shooting occurred Aug. 16, 1991, during a robbery at an AutoZone in Talladega, where victim, a 34-year-old Army veteran and father of four, was killed; Burton was convicted of capital murder in April 1992 with a jury recommendation for the death penalty.
- Family members and jurors told the governor that Tori Battle, daughter of Doug Battle, urged clemency, six of the eight living jurors did not object, and Ivey notified the Attorney General of Alabama and John Hamm, Alabama Department of Corrections Commissioner.
- The U.S. Supreme Court 1987 ruling on accomplice liability allows death sentences under 'reckless indifference', while the Alabama Supreme Court authorization for nitrogen gas executions framed Ivey's decision, and the Death Penalty Information Center documented at least 22 similar cases.
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What to know about the Alabama man granted clemency two days before his execution
MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) — Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey on Tuesday granted clemency to a man on death row who was scheduled to be executed Thursday even though he did not personally kill anyone. Ivey commuted Charles “Sonny” Burton’s death sentence to life in prison without the possibility of parole. Burton, 75, was convicted of capital murder for the shooting death of Doug Battle during a 1991 robbery. Another man, Derrick DeBruce, shot Battle after Burt…
·Washington, United States
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Total News Sources67
Leaning Left18Leaning Right1Center35Last UpdatedBias Distribution65% Center
Bias Distribution
- 65% of the sources are Center
65% Center
L 33%
C 65%
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