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ruet

(10,261 posts) Tue Mar 10, 2026, 01:05 PM Mar 10

Alabama Governor Commutes Death Sentence of Man Who Didn't Kill Anyone [View all]

Source: NBC News

Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey has commuted the death sentence of Charles “Sonny” Burton to life without parole, saying his execution, which was set for Thursday, would be "unjust."

In 1991, Burton was one of six men involved in the robbery of an AutoZone store in Talladega that ended with the murder of a customer, Doug Battle; Burton did not pull the trigger in the killing.

“Doug Battle was brutally murdered by Derrick DeBruce while shopping in an auto parts store. But DeBruce was ultimately sentenced to life without parole. Charles Burton did not shoot the victim, did not direct the triggerman to shoot the victim and had already left the store by the time the shooting occurred. Yet Mr. Burton was set to be executed while DeBruce was allowed to live out his life in prison,” Ivey said in a statement.

“I cannot proceed in good conscience with the execution of Mr. Burton under such disparate circumstances. I believe it would be unjust for one participant in this crime to be executed while the participant who pulled the trigger was not,” she said.

Read more: https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/sentence-commuted-man-alabama-was-set-execute-didnt-kill-anyone-rcna262738

24 replies

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Alabama Governor Commutes Death Sentence of Man Who Didn't Kill Anyone [View all] ruet Mar 10 OP

..Burton's death sentence was possible because of a legal doctrine known as felony murder, riversedge Mar 10 #1

I understand felony murder, Miguelito Loveless Mar 10 #7

Even to the point of being held responsible for deaths of accomplices by police. marble falls Mar 10 #11

It's an unfair law. LeftInTX Mar 10 #13

"I cannot proceed in good conscience with the execution of Mr. Burton" twodogsbarking Mar 10 #2

But she is OK with burying him in the hole. marble falls Mar 10 #10

She actually did something right question everything Mar 10 #3

Good MustLoveBeagles Mar 10 #4

The death penalty in and of itself is an abomination and not a deterrent. Moostache Mar 10 #5

and life without parole is a chickenshit form of capital punishment. marble falls Mar 10 #9

A life sentence without parole is less costly to society than capital punishment is. summer_in_TX Mar 10 #14

Now let's factor in some integrity, ethics, morality, humanity ... marble falls Mar 10 #17

Not able to discern whether you support or oppose summer_in_TX Mar 10 #21

Do not for a second think I support the death penalty in any sort of fashion for anyone in any situation PERIOD. ... marble falls Mar 10 #22

Of course those murders who went and sinned no more should be considered. summer_in_TX Mar 10 #23

Sometimes life without parole is necessary though Polybius Mar 10 #24

I've always thought that was a good idea. But there's a reason for it, and it has nothing to do with justice. malthaussen Mar 10 #15

Society changes and evolves its values. Eight year olds are no longer hung for stealing bread, which used to common ... marble falls Mar 10 #18

Society changes and evolves its *laws*. Values take longer to evolve... malthaussen Mar 10 #20

A Republican thinking timms139 Mar 10 #6

Jebus must have had a talk with her, now parole him. marble falls Mar 10 #8

I'm sure his race had nothing to do with his getting the death sentence. Pffftt! Living in Alabama might be considered a Wonder Why Mar 10 #12

Jeezus, he wasn't even still there. He had left. WTF? Joinfortmill Mar 10 #16

Good thing this wasn't Texas or Florida. Aristus Mar 10 #19