TL/DR –
Missouri Governor Mike Parson has denied a stay of execution for Brian Dorsey, a 52-year-old man convicted of the 2006 double-murder of his cousin and her husband. Dorsey’s legal team argued that he had been rehabilitated and thus should not be executed, with over 70 prison staff members, including the former warden, backing this claim. However, despite Dorsey’s clean disciplinary record and the fact that he turned himself in after the crime, Governor Parson stated that the execution would provide closure and deliver justice according to Missouri law.
Brian Dorsey Execution in Missouri
Missouri Gov. Mike Parson (R) has rejected the final plea to halt the execution of Brian Dorsey, a man found guilty of a 2006 double-murder. Dorsey, who murdered his cousin and her spouse, was scheduled for execution despite claims of rehabilitation from his legal team.
Dorsey’s attorney Megan Crane expressed disappointment at the decision, indicating extensive evidence of Dorsey’s rehabilitation. Dorsey’s execution was set for 6 p.m. local time Tuesday at Potosi Correctional Center, Missouri.
Over 70 prison staff members, including the ex-warden, vouched for Dorsey’s transformed behavior, highlighting his impeccable disciplinary record. Yet, Dorsey’s family remained divided over the clemency plea.
Dorsey was harbored by his cousin Sarah Bonnie and her husband due to threats from drug dealers over his unpaid debt. Reportedly, Dorsey was in a psychotic state due to lack of sleep and drug misuse at the time of the crime. He shot the couple using their shotgun leaving behind their young daughter, according to Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey.
Dorsey’s attorneys argue that his initial trial was mishandled, and his drug-induced psychosis not disclosed. They also point out the financial constraints underpinning this, as his trial attorneys received a flat fee of $12,000. This practice has since been recognized as a violation of American Bar Association guidelines and Missouri Rules of Professional Conduct.
Despite his crimes, Dorsey was praised as a model inmate. He worked as the prison’s barber and lived in the honor dorm. Troy Steele, the retired warden, noted Dorsey’s exceptional behavior and the respect he earned from the prison staff. More than 70 corrections staff members also wrote a letter to Gov. Parson expressing their belief that the death penalty was not appropriate for Brian Dorsey.
In the end, these arguments failed to sway Gov. Parson, and Dorsey’s execution continued as scheduled.
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