Board Approves Clemency for DE Killer

Convicted killer faces execution Jan 20. for killing his former girlfriend

The Delaware Board of Pardons is recommending that Gov. Jack Markell grant clemency to a man facing execution this week for killing his former girlfriend.

Robert Gattis had asked the board to recommend that the Democratic governor commute his sentence to life in prison without parole. With a 4-1 vote, the Board recommends Gattis lives out his natural life in prison with the condition that he forever drop all legal challenges of his conviction or pardon requests.

A person with direct knowledge of the decision, who spoke on condition of anonymity because the decision hadn't been released, said the board voted in favor of commutation. However, Markell has the final word.

Gattis was sentenced to death 20 years ago for shooting his former girlfriend Shirely Slay.

Gattis has exhausted court appeals. His lawyers argued commutation was appropriate because the courts never considered sexual abuse Gattis says he suffered as a child. Prosecutors questioned the veracity of the abuse claims, and noted Gattis maintained until recently that Slay's death was accidental.


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Copyright AP - Associated Press
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