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March 5, 2020
Despite prominent calls for clemency, Alabama completes execution of Nathaniel Woods
As reported in this local article, Nathaniel Woods "was executed Thursday evening on a 2005 conviction of being an accomplice to the murder of three police officers." Here is more about a case that had receive considerable attention prior to tonight's execution:
Nathaniel Woods, 43, was pronounced dead at 9:01 p.m. after an execution that lasted 15 minutes. The three Birmingham police officers — Charles Bennett; Carlos "Curly" Owen and Harley Chisholm III — were killed on June 17, 2004 with a semi-automatic rifle while entering a drug house.
Woods was put to death amid a storm of appeals and protests from supporters, who noted that Woods did not actually kill the officers; that Woods' attorneys missed key deadlines in his appeals, and that the trigger man — also on death row — said Woods was not involved....
Family members of the officers who attended the execution said Woods was as guilty as the man who pulled the trigger. "Our loved ones took their last breath while upholding the law to make (Birmingham) a safer place," said Rhonda Hembd, the sister of Harley Chisholm, after the execution. "Our families will not have closure until Kerry Spencer’s execution date. May God have mercy on their souls. Until then may our loved ones rest in peace."...
The Woods family and hundreds of thousands of people appealed to Gov. Kay Ivey to extend clemency to Woods.... In a statement Thursday night, Ivey accused Woods of luring the police officers into the house, and said two other individuals had been executed in Alabama since 1983 "for being an accomplice to capital murder."
“After thorough and careful consideration of the facts surrounding the case, the initial jury’s decision, the many legal challenges and reviews, I concluded that the state of Alabama should carry out Mr. Woods’ lawfully imposed sentence this evening," the statement said.
Though Woods acknowledged he and Spencer sold drugs, he is not accused of actually killing the officers and by all accounts did not have a gun at the time of the shooting. But at his 2005 trial, prosecutors argued that Woods had "conspired" with the shooter, Kerry Spencer. Alabama law makes a person legally accountable for the behavior of another person if he or she "procures, induces or causes such other person to commit the offense." Prosecutors did not provide evidence that Woods held or fired a gun during the incident.
A jury convicted Woods and voted 10-2 to sentence him to death. Spencer told The Appeal last month that Woods was not involved and that "there was no plan to kill the police."...
U.S. Sen. Doug Jones of Alabama said in a statement Thursday he called Ivey's office to express concerns about the case. "Given the questions and mitigating issues involved in this case — and the finality of a death sentence — a delay is warranted to provide time for a thorough review of all the facts and circumstances to truly ensure that justice is done," the statement said.
Kim Kardashian West sent a tweet urging Ivey to commute Woods' sentence, and later shared a number for Gov. Ivey's office. The rapper and actor T.I. also called on followers to contact Ivey. The family of former Alabama and Green Bay Packers quarterback Bart Starr also called for clemency.
March 5, 2020 at 11:03 PM | Permalink
Comments
Governor Kay Ivey is a racist schumbag. May she burn in Hell!
Posted by: William R. Delzell | Mar 6, 2020 9:43:11 AM
Alabama's blacks should not tolerate this governor.
Posted by: William R. Delzell | Mar 6, 2020 9:44:44 AM
Alabama's blacks should tolerate their governor.
Posted by: William R. Delzell | Mar 6, 2020 9:45:12 AM
No rebuttals to my comments?
Posted by: william r. delzell | Mar 7, 2020 7:40:03 PM
Execution is a lame word. They "killed" him.
Posted by: A defense atty tetiref | Mar 13, 2020 1:13:36 AM