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ST. LOUIS – A petition containing greater than 20,000 signatures has been despatched to Missouri Governor Mike Parson, asking him to grant clemency to a St. Louis man sentenced to die in two weeks.
Missourians for Options to the Dying Penalty, the Missouri NAACP, non secular organizations, and others rallied on the Missouri State Capitol in Jefferson Metropolis on Tuesday, hoping to win clemency for Kevin Johnson.
Johnson, 37, is on loss of life row for the 2005 homicide of Kirkwood police Sgt. William McEntee.
Organizers consider he obtained the loss of life penalty due to a racially biased prosecution.
“Punishing folks as a result of you may have the power to just isn’t justice,” stated Nimrod Chapel Jr., president of the Missouri NAACP. “We see now that prosecutors are embracing the mantel of justice, stopping folks from being killed merely due to inequities of the system. It’s vital that we proceed that work. Kevin Johnson is one in every of many people who find themselves struggling in Missouri’s penal establishment because of the injustices.”
Johnson is scheduled to be executed on Nov. 29. Johnson killed McEntee when he was 19 years previous. Johnson’s household and mates stated he regrets it.
“I might need folks to know he’s not a nasty particular person,” stated Khorry Ramey, Johnson’s daughter. “He simply made a horrible mistake that would probably value him his life. I might simply need folks to have mercy on him and rethink.”
Romona Miller was Johnson’s biology trainer at Kirkwood Excessive College.
“I really consider that it is a case that he has taken duty for what he did,” Miller stated. “Nobody is asking for him to be launched, however I really consider on this case, on this occasion, that the loss of life penalty just isn’t warranted.”
Teresa Fuller has recognized Johnson because the fourth grade and infrequently talk with him.
“He’s very remorseful and is wholeheartedly desires to offer his condolences to the McEntee household and allow them to understand it was a mistake, and he’s really sorry,” Fuller stated.
Former St. Louis County Prosecuting Legal professional Bob McCulloch, who prosecuted the case on the time, stated that the loss of life penalty was acceptable in Johnson’s case as a result of Johnson ambushed and purposefully attacked McEntee. McCulloch stated Johnson shot the officer 5 instances within the patrol automobile, which crashed, after which shot the officer two extra instances when he was pulled out of the automobile on his arms and knees.
Parson’s workplace launched the next assertion:
“As with all clemency selections, clemency functions are submitted to the parole board for overview and advice. The supplies are then despatched from the parole board to the governor’s authorized group, who conduct an intensive overview and meet with the governor on the matter. The governor then considers the matter and decides when he’s ready to take action. These aren’t selections that the governor takes flippantly, and the method is underway because it pertains to the execution scheduled for later this month.”
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