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Tennessee Gov commutes death sentence of woman condemned for murder-for-hire

By Douglas A. Berman

As detailed in this local press report, Tennessee Governor Phil Bredesen "this morning commuted the death sentence of Gaile Owens to life imprisonment."  Here are more of the details: Ms. Owens was convicted by a Shelby County jury in 1986 of being an accessory before the fact to first-degree murder in the murder-for-hire plot of her husband, Roger Owens. He was beaten to death in 1985. Gov. Bredesen said there were two issues that were important to him. The first is ?there?s at least the possibility? of Ms. Owens having been in an ?abusive marriage.? Secondly, Gov. Bredesen said, prosecutors had originally offered Ms. Owens a plea bargain deal, which she had accepted. ?The district attorney clearly considered it an appropriate resolution as well,? Gov...continue to full post

Full post as published by Sentencing Law and Policy on July 14, 2010 (boomark / email).