Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey spares death row inmate, citing doubts about evidence

Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey on Tuesday commuted the death sentence of a death row inmate after a number of former public officials, and the current district attorney, raised doubts about his conviction.

The Republican governor said she was commuting Toforest Johnson’s death sentence to life in prison without parole. Johnson was convicted of the 1995 murder of Jefferson County Deputy Sheriff William Hardy. Johnson has long maintained he is innocent.

“When presented with Mr. Johnson’s case, I had concerns there was not enough direct evidence to carry out the most serious punishment, death,” Ivey said in a statement. “My decision is not a determination of innocence, but a recognition that the circumstances of this case justify commuting his death sentence to life imprisonment, without possibility of parole.”

Ivey has overseen 27 executions during her time as governor. She has commuted the death sentences of three death row inmates.

Hardy was shot twice in the head while working off-duty security at a hotel. Johnson has maintained he was on the other side of town at the time of the shooting.

Ty Alper, one of Toforest Johnson’s attorneys, said they are grateful to Ivey for “diligently reviewing Toforest’s case and taking action…

Original source: https://www.nbcnews.com/health