MONTGOMERY, Ala. – Gov. Kay Ivey on Tuesday commuted Toforest Johnson’s death sentence to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole, citing concerns about whether there was enough direct evidence to justify an execution.
Johnson remains convicted of capital murder in the 1995 shooting death of Jefferson County Deputy William G. Hardy. The governor’s action changes his punishment but does not overturn the conviction, grant him a new trial or release him from prison.
“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. “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.”…