Alabama governor commutes death sentence of inmate who didn't kill victim

Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey commuted Charles "Sonny" Burton's death sentence to life without parole; Burton was not the shooter and another man fired the fatal shot.

Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey commuted the death sentence of 75-year-old Charles "Sonny" Burton, who had been scheduled for execution this week. Burton was convicted in connection with a 1991 store robbery in which a customer, Doug Battle, was killed, but he was not inside the store when the fatal shot was fired. Another man, Derrick DeBruce, fired the shot and later had his death sentence reduced on appeal. Ivey said she believes the death penalty must be administered fairly and that she could not proceed in good conscience under the disparate circumstances in this case. Key facts: - The governor reduced Burton's sentence to life in prison without possibility of parole. - Burton was not the shooter and had left the store before the fatal shot was fired. - Derrick DeBruce was the person who shot the victim and had his death sentence later reduced to life in prison on appeal. - Multiple jurors from Burton's 1992 trial and some family members urged clemency, saying Burton's role did not justify execution. Summary: The commutation spares Burton from a scheduled execution and changes his sentence to life without parole. The governor described the decision as addressing disparate treatment between participants in the crime. Undetermined at this time.