Missouri Governor Mike Parson has denied clemency for Brian Dorsey, who is scheduled for execution for the murder of his cousin and her husband almost twenty years ago. Dorsey’s attorney, Megan Crane, expressed devastation at the governor’s decision, citing support from 72 current and former corrections officers and others who vouched for Dorsey’s rehabilitation.
Despite the plea for clemency, Governor Parson has never granted such a request during his tenure. Dorsey’s legal team has filed appeals, one of which focuses on his past good behavior behind bars. Another appeal argues that Dorsey’s trial lawyers had a conflict of interest due to a flat fee payment structure, leading Dorsey to plead guilty without any assurance of avoiding the death penalty.
Dorsey, convicted of the 2006 double murder of Sarah and Ben Bonnie, faces execution. Prosecutors claimed that he killed the couple after a failed attempt to borrow money from Sarah Bonnie to pay off drug dealers. Dorsey’s defense team attributes his actions to drug-induced psychosis, stating that he has since rehabilitated while in prison.
Former Missouri Supreme Court Justice Michael Wolff, who initially upheld Dorsey’s death sentence in 2009, now supports clemency, acknowledging flaws in the legal process. The Missouri Department of Corrections has made accommodations to reduce Dorsey’s potential suffering during the execution process.
Concerns have been raised about the execution protocol’s lack of anesthetics, particularly in cases where a cutdown procedure is necessary to find a suitable vein for administering the lethal dose. Dorsey’s lawyers argue that the absence of anesthesia could violate his religious freedom rights by causing undue pain and preventing meaningful interaction with a spiritual adviser.
The recent settlement aims to address these concerns, although specific details of the changes have not been disclosed. Dorsey’s health conditions, including obesity and diabetes, pose challenges in the execution process.
By Jim Salter
Please rewrite the following sentence: “The cat quickly ran up the tree to escape the approaching dog.”
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