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Dover, Del. —
Gov. Jack Markell announced today he will spare the life of convicted killer Robert A. Gattis and commute his death sentence to life in prison without parole.
Gattis, 49, was sentenced to death for the May 1990 murder of his former girlfriend Shirley Slay and was scheduled to be executed early Friday, Jan. 20.
Markell’s decision comes just two days after the Delaware Board of Pardons’ unprecedented 4-1 vote to recommend clemency for Gattis.
“I realize my decision may cause pain to the family and friends of Shirley Slay,” Markell said in a prepared statement. “For that, I deeply apologize.”
Markell said he gave great weight to the Board of Pardons’ recommendation and took its decision very seriously.
“While I have supported the imposition of the death penalty in the past and I consider Mr. Gattis’s crimes to be heinous, I am not prepared to move forward with imposition of the sentence in this case,” Markell stated.
Markell said as a condition of the commutation, Gattis must drop all legal challenges to his conviction and sentence as commuted, he must waive all right to present future commutation or pardon request and agree to live out his natural life in prison. These were also the recommendations of the Board of Pardons when they made their recommendation to the governor.
“This commutation in no way relieves Mr. Gattis of his moral or legal guilt, and I am mindful of the fact that an innocent victim lost her life on the night of May 9, 1990,” Markell stated. … “With these conditions, Ms. Slay’s loved ones can at least know that they will never have to go through the painful process again of trials, hearings or requests for release.”
Gattis' attorneys, John Decker and Karl Schwartz, said in a statement that Gattis is grateful for Markell's "morally corageious and historical decision."
"Once again we express our deepest sorrow to the Slay family for the loss of their loved one and hope that time they will find the peace they deserve," Decker and Schwartz stated.
Attorney General Beau Biden released a statement today that over the past 20 years, state and federal courts unanimously determined there was no legal, factual or procedural error in the case.
"We continue to have the same concerns we have always expressed for victims of domestic violence," Biden said. "Shirley Slay was a wholly innocent victim who, until her brutal and premeditated murder, did everything possible to protect herself from the years of abuse by Robert Gattis. We respect that this was a weighty decision for the governor after much review and deliberation."
Markell noted that this was one of the most difficult decisions he has had to make in his years in public service.
“I believe it is the correct one under the circumstances,” he stated. “My thoughts and prayers are with the loved ones of Shirley Slay during this difficult time.”
Gov. Jack Markell announced today he will spare the life of convicted killer Robert A. Gattis and commute his death sentence to life in prison without parole.
Gattis, 49, was sentenced to death for the May 1990 murder of his former girlfriend Shirley Slay and was scheduled to be executed early Friday, Jan. 20.
Markell’s decision comes just two days after the Delaware Board of Pardons’ unprecedented 4-1 vote to recommend clemency for Gattis.
“I realize my decision may cause pain to the family and friends of Shirley Slay,” Markell said in a prepared statement. “For that, I deeply apologize.”
Markell said he gave great weight to the Board of Pardons’ recommendation and took its decision very seriously.
“While I have supported the imposition of the death penalty in the past and I consider Mr. Gattis’s crimes to be heinous, I am not prepared to move forward with imposition of the sentence in this case,” Markell stated.
Markell said as a condition of the commutation, Gattis must drop all legal challenges to his conviction and sentence as commuted, he must waive all right to present future commutation or pardon request and agree to live out his natural life in prison. These were also the recommendations of the Board of Pardons when they made their recommendation to the governor.
“This commutation in no way relieves Mr. Gattis of his moral or legal guilt, and I am mindful of the fact that an innocent victim lost her life on the night of May 9, 1990,” Markell stated. … “With these conditions, Ms. Slay’s loved ones can at least know that they will never have to go through the painful process again of trials, hearings or requests for release.”
Gattis' attorneys, John Decker and Karl Schwartz, said in a statement that Gattis is grateful for Markell's "morally corageious and historical decision."
"Once again we express our deepest sorrow to the Slay family for the loss of their loved one and hope that time they will find the peace they deserve," Decker and Schwartz stated.
Attorney General Beau Biden released a statement today that over the past 20 years, state and federal courts unanimously determined there was no legal, factual or procedural error in the case.
"We continue to have the same concerns we have always expressed for victims of domestic violence," Biden said. "Shirley Slay was a wholly innocent victim who, until her brutal and premeditated murder, did everything possible to protect herself from the years of abuse by Robert Gattis. We respect that this was a weighty decision for the governor after much review and deliberation."
Markell noted that this was one of the most difficult decisions he has had to make in his years in public service.
“I believe it is the correct one under the circumstances,” he stated. “My thoughts and prayers are with the loved ones of Shirley Slay during this difficult time.”
