| Delaware Online - Markell spares Gattis the death penalty |
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Written by SEAN O'SULLIVAN The News Journal Robert A. Gattis is shown at his clemency hearing last week. / The News Journal/Bob HerbertDelaware Gov. Jack Markell today announced he is sparing 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. Markell's action means the execution will now be called off and the 49-year-old Gattis - who was convicted and sentenced to death for the May 1990 murder of his one-time girlfriend Shirley Slay - will spend the rest of his life in prison. Markell cited the "unusual and perhaps historic" recommendation of the Delaware Board of Pardons, in a 4-1 vote, to commute Gattis’ sentence. |
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