Missouri set to execute Brian Dorsey Tuesday for 2006 double murder
BONNE TERRE, Mo. (KMIZ)
Convicted murderer Brian Dorsey is set to be executed by the State of Missouri Tuesday evening, for the 2006 murders of his cousin and her husband, despite an outcry of support and efforts from him and his legal team to request clemency.
On Monday, Gov. Mike Parson denied Dorsey's request for clemency, despite more than 70 correctional officers who support his request and believe that the inmate's life should be spared. A warden and Dorsey's high school football coach joined them and a few of his family members in petitioning Parson for clemency.
The news of Parson's decision was announced on Monday, in an email sent from his attorney's law firm. Parson's office later sent a news release confirming that Tuesday's execution will move forward.
ABC 17 News spoke with co-director of Missourians for Alternatives to the Death Penalty Michelle Smith regarding Dorsey and she said it's their goal to uplift his humanity and to speak about the person he has become.
"We know that the worst thing you've ever done in your life does not define you," said Smith. "It is one aspect of who you are. And it's something, you know, like Brian, many others deal with every single day. But also it doesn't define the human that he is. And so we, you know, have been talking about, you know, what type of person he is today, how remorseful he is, and also what he's done to better himself."
Former Missouri Supreme Court judge, and former Chief Justice, Michael Wolff has written to Parson to urge clemency for Mr. Dorsey. He explains that the court’s decision upholding Mr. Dorsey’s death sentence is one of the “rare cases where those of us who sit in judgment of a man convicted of capital murder got it wrong.” Judge Wolff points to the flat fee arrangement with Mr. Dorsey’s attorneys as a defect that “undoubtedly influenced everything," according to an email from Dorseys Attorney.
Missourians For Alternatives to the Death Penalty is planning a demonstration now that the state decided to move forward with the execution.
Smith said, "We will, host, what we call vigils across the state where people, mostly people of faith will come together in prayer and, you know, just amplify, Brian in his life, and that will happen in several cities."
One demonstration will be at noon in Jefferson City at the Capitol, another will be in St. Louis at 3 p.m. at the City Circuit Court, in Kansas City at 5 p.m. at 39th and Troost and in Columbia at 5 p.m. at the Boone County Courthouse. Their final demonstration will be at Boone Terre at 5:30 p.m.
