Man convicted of murder asks for clemency from Parson

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A man who is convicted of murdering his cousin and her husband is asking Gov. Mike Parson for clemency.

Brian Dorsey, 52, was found guilty by a Boone County jury in 2008 for two counts of first-degree murder and he was sentenced to death. His execution is set for April 9. He is asking for life in prison without parole. He has continuously fought the sentence. He was found guilty of killing his cousin, Sarah Bonnie, and her husband, Ben, in December 2006 at their New Bloomfield home.

A release from Dorsey's current lawyer team includes letters from correctional officers along with a former judge asking the governor to stop the execution. The petition claims Dorsey’s lawyers did not investigate his impaired mental state and that his prison record shows remorse, redemption and service.

The Missouri Supreme Court denied to stop the execution last week. Dorsey also sued Parson and Trevor Foley, who is the acting director of the Department of Corrections. Dorsey’s attorneys argue that Foley, as the acting DOC director, does not have the authority to oversee an execution. The lawsuit claims that the director of the DOC is responsible for overseeing all aspects of an execution.

A change of judge was ordered on Thursday after the judge recused himself. The case has been transferred to a presiding judge for assignment.