Today's New York Times carries the editorial, "A Death Penalty Commutation."
On Tuesday, Gov. Jack Markell of Delaware commuted the death sentence of Robert Gattis to life without parole. In doing so, he said he gave “great weight” to the careful decision of the state board of pardons to recommend that the sentence be commuted, the first such recommendation the board has made since the death penalty was reinstated there in 1974. As a condition of the commutation, which is supported by a long list of former judges and prosecutors, Mr. Gattis is expected to waive all legal challenges and live out his life in prison.
And:
For one board member, the rationale for life without parole is more basic. “When the taking of life is not required as a matter of self-defense,” he explained, “one cannot ethically or morally take that act.” Commuting Mr. Gattis’s sentence meets the imperative of justice. Imposing the death penalty in his case, as in any case, would have been grossly unjust.
Sean O'Sullivan offers extensive coverage in, "Gattis spared: Markell commutes death sentence to life in prison," for the Wilmington News Journal.
Delaware Gov. Jack Markell on Tuesday spared the life of condemned killer Robert A. Gattis, who was scheduled to die by lethal injection early Friday morning.It is the first time in modern memory, and perhaps the first time ever, that a Delaware governor has commuted a death sentence to life in prison.
And:
The Slay family said they were disappointed by the outcome but accepted it.
"We are going to look at it as the way God wanted it to be," said Slay's mother, who also is named Shirley.
She said Markell met with members of the family personally before he made his decision public Tuesday, and they appreciated the chance to share their side of the story with Markell and explain their feelings and concerns.
Markell put conditions on his offer of commutation, stating Gattis must agree to surrender all future legal appeals and to spend the rest of his natural life in the Maximum Security Unit of Vaughn Correctional Center.
To that end, according to Markell's office, a hearing is expected to be held today in New Castle County Superior Court, where Gattis will formally waive his appellate rights before a Superior Court judge and agree to the conditions set by Markell.
The News Journal also carries, "Markell may avoid voter backlash," by Chad Livengood.
One of the Democratic governor's chief Republican critics doesn't think the governor will be hurt politically by the decision.
"I don't see any political fallout," said House Minority Leader Greg Lavelle, vice chairman of the Delaware Republican Party.
Markell explained his decision to legislative leaders Tuesday during their weekly lunch meeting, Lavelle said.
"It's a difficult decision," said Lavelle, R-Sharpley. "I'm glad I didn't have to make it."
"Delaware governor commutes death sentence," is by Bill Mears at CNN.
Markell said he prayed and met with Slay's family before making his decision. He concluded that "moving forward with the execution of Mr. Gattis is not appropriate." But the commutation "in no way relieves Mr. Gattis of his moral or legal guilt."
Gattis, 49, appeared in person at the clemency hearing last week in Dover, saying he is a changed man, and begging for mercy. "I am not the Robert Gattis who killed Shirley Slay, that's not who I am," he said, according to a transcript of the hearing.
The Board of Pardons said there was merit to Gattis' claims of mistreatment suffered as a child. "We accept that if even half of what has been submitted about Mr. Gattis' childhood is true, he was victimized physically, emotionally, and sexually by family members who owed him a duty of care," said the state panel.
Gattis' lawyers expressed relief at the commutation. "We are humbled by Gov. Markell's morally courageous decision," said attorney John Deckers. "To our knowledge, no prior Delaware governor has ever commuted a death sentence."
Delaware has executed 15 people since capital punishment was resumed in the United States in 1976. Nineteen male inmates now remain on the state's death row.
Reuters posts, "Delaware governor spares life of murderer," by Barbara Goldberg and Michelle Nichols. It's via the Chicago Tribune.
The Board of Pardon's move, on which Markell said he acted, marked the first time the board had recommended clemency since the death sentence was reinstated in Delaware in 1974.
MSNBC posts, "Del. governor spares murderer facing execution."
Gattis' plea for clemency was based on new evidence about the physical and sexual abuse he suffered as a youth. He said he has become a new person in prison.
"I'm not the Robert Gattis that killed Shirley Slay. That is not who I am now. I am the Robert Gattis who has two sons I love and respect," he said at his parole hearing last week.
Earlier coverage of the historic Delaware commutation begins at the link.
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