Alabama death row inmate who didn't kill victim granted clemency

The gunman in the robbery, Derrick DeBruce, was also originally sentenced to death but that sentence was later reduced to life in prison without parole after courts determined he had received ineffective legal representation during his trial. DeBruce died in prison in 2020.

Advocates for Burton argued that allowing his execution to proceed while the shooter avoided the death penalty showed a stark inconsistency in the justice system.

Burton was one of six men involved in the robbery. Court records show that he had already left the store when the shooting occurred and did not direct DeBruce to fire the fatal shot. Still, a jury convicted him of capital murder in 1992, sending him to Alabama's death row.

In a recent interview before the governor's decision, Burton acknowledged his involvement in the robbery while expressing regret.

"I didn't kill no one, true enough, but I made a mistake by being part of the crime," Burton said. "I made a mistake, and it seems like all my friends have forgave me. I hope that my friends will remember me and remember that I was a real friend, a good friend."

The governor's decision was welcomed by Burton's family. His daughter, Lois Harris, said she felt immense relief after learning that the execution would not take place.

"I'm thankful. I'm glad she made that decision because it was the right decision," she told CNN, adding that the news felt like a weight was lifted from her shoulders.

Clemency decisions are rare in Alabama. According to the Death Penalty Information Center, fewer than half of 1% of people sentenced to death in the state have received clemency. Ivey has granted such relief only once before during her time in office.

Advocates who had campaigned for Burton's life said the governor's decision corrected a troubling imbalance in the case.

Krisanne Vaillancourt Murphy, executive director of the Catholic Mobilizing Network, praised the move and highlighted the broader moral debate surrounding capital punishment.

"The Catholic Church teaches that all human life is sacred, regardless of innocence or guilt. There is no place for the death penalty in that vision of a consistent ethic of life," she said in a statement. "Today, I'm grateful that Mr. Burton's life has been spared."

Murphy also acknowledged the enduring impact on the victim's family, noting that decades of court proceedings often leave families without the closure they seek.

Battle's daughter, Tori Battle, had publicly opposed Burton's execution, writing in an op-ed that carrying it out would not bring healing.

"My opposition to this execution is not a betrayal of my father. It is an affirmation of the values he lived by, and that I have tried to instill in my children. Justice can be measured by our commitment to truth and our willingness to show mercy," she said.

"Executing a man who did not commit the killing does not heal wounds or strengthen public trust. It weakens it. … I lost my father to violence. Another death will not bring him back. It will only deepen my trauma and the moral cost we all share."

Burton's legal team said the governor's decision brought relief after decades of uncertainty.

"We are grateful to Governor Ivey for carefully considering this case and granting clemency to Mr. Burton," said Cecilia Vaca, executive director of the Federal Defenders of Middle Alabama, who assisted Burton in the case. "Sonny's team is with him now sharing the news, and they will have more to say very soon. For now, we are profoundly grateful that Sonny's life has been spared."

Opponents of the death penalty also pointed to the case as an example of broader flaws in the capital punishment system.

Laura Porter, executive director of the U.S. Campaign to End the Death Penalty, said it illustrated how unevenly the punishment can be applied.

"The death penalty process is deeply flawed when someone who was not present for the killing faces execution, while the person who committed the murder does not. It is uplifting to see that more and more governors across the ideological spectrum are recognizing problems with death penalty cases," she said.

Archbishop Mark S. Rivituso of Mobile, Alabama, as well expressed gratitude to Ivey for commuting the death sentence of Burton. In a statement, Rivituso said the decision reflects a core principle of Catholic teaching, adding that "in choosing mercy, Gov. Ivey has affirmed the dignity of human life and helped foster a greater culture of life in our society."

The archbishop also remembered the victim, Battle, saying his loved ones and family's loss "remains a profound tragedy," while assuring that prayers continue for them. He also invited the faithful of the Archdiocese of Mobile to pray “for all victims of violence, along with their loved ones, and for those who have been condemned to death.”