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TO LIFE. NOW, DEATH ROW ADVOCATES ARE BRINGING ATTENTION TO BURN STORY WITH THE BILLBOARD IN TALLADEGA THAT READS SAVE SONNY BURTON, WHICH WAS PAID FOR BY THE EXECUTION INTERVENTION PROJECT. I MEAN, YOU’RE TALKING ABOUT A HORROR SHOW. REVEREND JEFF HOOD IS AN ACTIVIST AND DEATH ROW INMATE, SPIRITUAL ADVISOR. HE’S BACK IN THE STATE THIS TIME, FIGHTING TO GET CHARLES SONNY BURTON’S EXECUTION COMMUTED. IT’S CRAZY TO THINK THAT THE STATE OF ALABAMA THINKS IT’S OKAY TO KILL SOMEBODY THAT AIN’T KILLED NOBODY. I SPOKE WITH ATTORNEY ERIC GUSTER TO BETTER UNDERSTAND WHY THE PERSON WHO DID NOT PULL THE TRIGGER IN THE CRIME WOULD RECEIVE A HARSHER PUNISHMENT. THE LEVEL OF PUNISHMENT IS WRONG. THE CONVICTION SEEMED LIKE IT WAS ACCURATE, BUT BASED IN ALABAMA AND ALABAMA, THE THE LAW SIMPLY STATES, IF YOU ARE PART OF A CRIME AND A DEATH OCCURS, YOU’RE RESPONSIBLE FOR THAT DEATH. AND THAT’S WHY IT HAS CAUSED CONFUSION. GUSTER SAYS HAVING DIFFERENT TRIALS CAN AFFECT OUTCOMES. WHEN YOU HAVE SEPARATE JURIES FOR DIFFERENT TRIALS, YOU YOU’RE NOT ALLOWED TO BRING IN WHAT SOMEONE ELSE DID OR WHAT THAT CONVICTION WAS UNLESS THAT PERSON IS TESTIFYING OR YOU’RE USING THAT EVIDENCE TO IMPEACH THEM. EVEN IN THE ABSENCE OF HER FATHER, THE VICTIM’S DAUGHTER IS USING HER VOICE TO ADVOCATE FOR BURTON. GOVERNOR IVEY’S DECISION SHOULD WEIGH HEAVILY ON WHAT THE DAUGHTER SAYS. THIS IS A FAMILY MEMBER. THIS ISN’T SOME STRANGER WHO’S MAKING APPEAL. WHILE TOM HAS NOT RUN OUT YET. IT’S STILL A PROCESS. HOOD AND ACTIVISTS WILL CONTINUE TO SPEAK UP ABOUT A 75 YEAR OLD MAN IN A WHEELCHAIR WHO THEY’RE GOING TO HAVE TO LIFT UP ON THE GURNEY. THEY’RE GOING TO HAVE TO TAKE HIS HELMET OFF. THEY’RE GOING TO HAVE TO, WITH HIS RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS. THEY’RE GOING TO HAVE TO STRAIGHTEN HIS BONES OUT. NOW, REVEREND HOOD IS NOT BURDENS PERSONAL SPIRITUAL ADVISOR, BUT HE IS AN ADVOCATE. GOVERNOR KAY IVEY HAS SET THE TIME FRAME OF EXECUTION TO
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‘Level of punishment is wrong’: Alabama death row inmate didn’t pull the trigger, still faces execution
Charles “Sonny” Burton, an Alabama man on death row, is scheduled for execution next month.Gov. Kay Ivey officially set the execution window for between midnight Thursday, March 12, and 6 a.m. the next day.Burton was one of six men involved in a 1991 robbery at an AutoZone in Talladega, which resulted in the shooting death of customer Doug Battle, an Army veteran and father of four. Although Derrick DeBruce was the one who pulled the trigger, both he and Burton were convicted and sentenced to life. DeBruce was later resentenced to life in prison, while Burton now faces execution.Criticism surrounding Burton’s execution is growing, with many arguing that the punishment does not fit the crime.Rev. Jeff Hood, an activist and spiritual advisor to death row inmates, is advocating for Burton’s execution to be commuted. He is not the spiritual advisor for Burton.”It’s crazy to think that the State of Alabama thinks it’s OK to kill somebody that ain’t killed nobody,” Hood said.Attorney Eric Guster explained the legal reasoning behind Burton’s harsher punishment, noting that Alabama law holds individuals responsible for deaths occurring during crimes they were part of. “The level of punishment is wrong. The conviction seems like it was accurate, but based in Alabama, the law states if you were a part of a crime and a death occurs, you’re responsible for the death,” Guster said. He added that separate trials can lead to different outcomes, as juries are not allowed to consider actions or convictions from other trials unless used for testimony or evidence impeachment.Despite the absence of her father, the victim’s daughter is advocating for Burton, which Guster believes should influence Ivey’s decision. “Gov. Ivey’s decision should weigh heavily on what the daughter says. This is a family member. This isn’t some stranger making an appeal,” Guster said.Hood and other activists continue to speak out against Burton’s execution, highlighting his age and health issues. “A 75-year-old man in a wheelchair, who they’re going to have to lift up on a gurney, they’re going to have to take his helmet off; with his rheumatoid arthritis, they’re going to have to straighten his bones out,” Hood said.Meanwhile, Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall supports the execution, stating, “Burton was convicted of capital murder in April 1992, and that the jury unanimously recommended the death penalty. That conviction and sentence have been upheld at every level.”This is a developing story and will be updated as information becomes available.
Charles “Sonny” Burton, an Alabama man on death row, is scheduled for execution next month.
Gov. Kay Ivey officially set the execution window for between midnight Thursday, March 12, and 6 a.m. the next day.
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Burton was one of six men involved in a 1991 robbery at an AutoZone in Talladega, which resulted in the shooting death of customer Doug Battle, an Army veteran and father of four. Although Derrick DeBruce was the one who pulled the trigger, both he and Burton were convicted and sentenced to life.
DeBruce was later resentenced to life in prison, while Burton now faces execution.
Criticism surrounding Burton’s execution is growing, with many arguing that the punishment does not fit the crime.
Rev. Jeff Hood, an activist and spiritual advisor to death row inmates, is advocating for Burton’s execution to be commuted. He is not the spiritual advisor for Burton.
“It’s crazy to think that the State of Alabama thinks it’s OK to kill somebody that ain’t killed nobody,” Hood said.
Attorney Eric Guster explained the legal reasoning behind Burton’s harsher punishment, noting that Alabama law holds individuals responsible for deaths occurring during crimes they were part of.
“The level of punishment is wrong. The conviction seems like it was accurate, but based in Alabama, the law states if you were a part of a crime and a death occurs, you’re responsible for the death,” Guster said.
He added that separate trials can lead to different outcomes, as juries are not allowed to consider actions or convictions from other trials unless used for testimony or evidence impeachment.
Despite the absence of her father, the victim’s daughter is advocating for Burton, which Guster believes should influence Ivey’s decision.
“Gov. Ivey’s decision should weigh heavily on what the daughter says. This is a family member. This isn’t some stranger making an appeal,” Guster said.
Hood and other activists continue to speak out against Burton’s execution, highlighting his age and health issues.
“A 75-year-old man in a wheelchair, who they’re going to have to lift up on a gurney, they’re going to have to take his helmet off; with his rheumatoid arthritis, they’re going to have to straighten his bones out,” Hood said.
Meanwhile, Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall supports the execution, stating, “Burton was convicted of capital murder in April 1992, and that the jury unanimously recommended the death penalty. That conviction and sentence have been upheld at every level.”
This is a developing story and will be updated as information becomes available.
