Gov. Kay Ivey of Alabama, known for her strong support of the death penalty, made a historic decision to commute the death sentence of Robin “Rocky” Myers, a man who was determined to be intellectually disabled and convicted of murder. Despite not believing in Myers’ innocence, Ivey stated that there was not enough evidence to warrant his execution. Myers was accused of stabbing two people in 1991 and killing one of them before trading a stolen VHS machine for crack cocaine. Despite the lack of concrete evidence linking Myers to the crime, he was sentenced to death by a state judge, despite a jury recommending a life sentence. Ivey cited the absence of a murder weapon, lack of fingerprint or DNA evidence, and other physical evidence as reasons for her decision. This case posed a significant challenge for Ivey, who has overseen numerous executions during her time in office. Myers’ federal public defender expressed gratitude for the decision, stating that Myers is now relieved of the fear of facing death and expressing gratitude to those who supported the petition for his commutation. The family of the victim was also mentioned, with thoughts going out to them during this difficult time. Overall, this decision by Gov. Ivey marks a rare exception in her stance on the death penalty and highlights the complexities and uncertainties surrounding capital punishment cases.
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