Statement from Dr. Will Boyd regarding the Commutation of Sonny Burton

From the Boyd campaign

I applaud Governor Kay Ivey’s decision to grant clemency for Charles “Sonny” Burton. His execution, scheduled for this Thursday, was commuted to a life sentence without the possibility of parole. Mr. Burton has been on Death Row for more than three decades after a capital murder conviction. This case has received widespread media coverage because law enforcement and the prosecution conceded he didn’t kill the victim and wasn’t present when the murder occurred.

While Mr. Burton certainly was a participant in the crime that resulted in Mr. Doug Battle’s death, his execution would not have a demonstration of justice. This is especially true because the actual killer, Mr. Derrick DeBruce, had his own death sentence reduced to life in prison. 

If Mr. Burton had been executed, it would have compounded the pain of the Battle family. Both the family and some jury members had spoken out against his execution. 

This case exposes a troubling flaw in Alabama’s felony murder law, which allows participants in some felonies where deaths occur to be charged with capital murder, even if they did not take a life themselves.

To her credit, our governor said that she couldn’t allow Mr. Burton’s execution to proceed ‘under such disparate circumstances.’ She went on to say that it would be ‘unjust’ for Mr. Burton to be executed when Mr. DeBruce has not been. I agree wholeheartedly with Governor Ivey on this point.

While I know it won’t provide the comfort that the Battle family longs for, my prayer is that this decision will help them as they continue to heal. 

Dr. Will Boyd, 

Democratic Candidate for Governor of Alabama

For more information on Dr. Boyd and his campaign for Governor, visit https://drwillboyd.com or follow him on social media.