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Missouri Governor commutes death sentence to LWOP based on innocence concerns

By Douglas A. Berman

As detailed in this local article, "Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon on Monday commuted the death sentence of a convicted murderer to life in prison without parole."  Here is more: Richard Clay was scheduled to be executed Wednesday for a 1994 murder in New Madrid County, in Missouri?s Bootheel region. In a statement announcing the decision, Nixon said he remains convinced of Clay?s involvement in the murder and supports the guilty verdict. ?I have concluded, however, to exercise my constitutional authority and commute Richard Clay?s sentence to life without the possibility of parole,? Nixon said in the statement. ?Richard Clay?s involvement in this crime is clear, and he must, and will, serve the remainder of his life behind bars for his role in this heinous act...continue to full post

Full post as published by Sentencing Law and Policy on January 11, 2011 (boomark / email).