Alabama governor commutes death sentence of man who didn’t kill anyone
Alabama Governor Commutes Death Sentence of Man Who Didn’t Kill Anyone
On Tuesday, Alabama’s governor, Kay Ivey, decided to reduce the death sentence of Charles “Sonny” Burton to life without parole, calling the execution “unjust.” The planned execution was set for Thursday, but Ivey argued that the punishment was unfair given the circumstances of the crime.
The Crime and Legal Doctrine
In 1991, Burton was part of a group of six individuals who robbed an AutoZone store in Talladega. The robbery resulted in the death of a customer, Doug Battle, but Burton was not the one who fired the fatal shot. According to Ivey, the triggerman, Derrick DeBruce, was ultimately given a life sentence, while Burton was scheduled for execution despite not being directly responsible for the murder.
“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, 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 stated.
The state’s legal justification for Burton’s death sentence relied on the felony murder rule, which holds participants in certain crimes like robbery accountable for any deaths that occur during the act, regardless of whether they personally committed the killing.
Victim’s Daughter Urges Mercy
During the process, Ivey received support from the victim’s daughter, who wrote an op-ed in the Montgomery Advertiser advocating for Burton’s life. The daughter’s forgiveness became a significant factor in the decision, according to Burton, who expressed appreciation for the gesture. “She lifts a whole lot of guilt off me,” he said.
“I didn’t assist nobody. I didn’t aid nobody. I didn’t tell anybody to shoot nobody,” Burton explained in a phone interview from the William C. Holman Correctional Facility, where Alabama’s execution chamber is located.
Earlier this month, Burton admitted to entering the store with a weapon, stealing cash from a safe, and then leaving to await his accomplices. Inside, Derrick DeBruce shot Battle, killing him. The state acknowledged this in its response to Burton’s clemency application.
Legal Dispute and Final Remarks
Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall expressed disappointment, stating that “there has never been any doubt that Sonny Burton has Douglas Battle’s blood on his hands.” He criticized Burton’s lengthy appeals as frivolous and argued that the death penalty should stand as a verdict of the jury.
“Burton does not deserve special treatment because he is old—he could have been executed a long time ago. Like many death-row inmates, he chose to prolong his case through endless appeals,” Marshall said.
Burton’s family and legal team praised Ivey’s decision in a statement, highlighting the governor’s “measured, responsible, and respectable leadership.” Federal defender Matt Schulz, who represented Burton for nearly two decades, added: “A ‘thank you’ indeed falls short of the gratitude we wish to express, but Sonny Burton and all who supported his clemency appreciate the governor’s choice.”
Burton would have been the ninth person executed using nitrogen gas in Alabama, a method introduced in 2024. This marks the second time Ivey has commuted a death sentence. The article was produced by Abigail Brooks, Dan Slepian, and Jackie Montalvo of NBC News.
