Death Row reprieve for 1987 murder trial
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Inmate Abu-Ali Abdur'Rahman. Photo courtesy of Abdur'Rahman's legal team
Nashville judge Monte Watkins on Tuesday ordered inmate Abu-Ali Abdur'Rahman off of death row after his legal team argued prosecutorial misconduct tainted his 1987 murder trial.
- The judge vacated the original conviction and accepted a new plea deal that replaced Abdur'Rahman's death sentence with three consecutive life sentences for first-degree murder and other charges.
- District Attorney Glenn Funk supported the move in court, telling Watkins such actions were justified in the face of "the smoking gun of racial bias."
Why it matters: Court debates over the death penalty typically turn on obscure legal technicalities. This case, however, directly confronts allegations of racism within the criminal justice system.
- It also puts Funk at odds with state officials who have fought death penalty challenges in recent years.
Yes, but: Watkins initially ordered Abdur'Rahman, 71, off death row in 2019. Tennessee Attorney General Herbert Slatery appealed, and a higher court overturned the deal last year.
- Tuesday's order attempts to address the issues discussed in the appeals court ruling. It remains unclear if Slatery will pursue another challenge.
- Spokesperson Samantha Fisher tells Axios the office is "reviewing the Judge's order and considering next steps."
Between the lines: Abdur'Rahman's defense team argues the prosecution violated his constitutional rights by improperly blocking Black members of the jury pool.
- The attorneys cite newly discovered trial notes and trial prosecutor John Zimmermann's 2015 remarks on race and jury selection.
- Zimmermann, who now works as a prosecutor in Rutherford County, referred Axios to a past court review that rejected arguments of racial bias during jury selection. He did not comment on Watkins' order.
The background: Abdur'Rahman was charged with first-degree murder in the 1986 stabbing death of Patrick Daniels. He was also charged in the stabbing of Norma Jean Norman, who survived.
- Abdur'Rahman pleaded guilty Tuesday to the murder charge as well as charges of armed robbery and aggravated assault with intent to commit murder.
Flashback: Tuesday's proceedings follow a long legal battle.
- Funk initially agreed to remove Abdur'Rahman from death row in 2019. Watkins signed off on the deal, but the Tennessee attorney general appealed his decision.
- A state appeals court overturned the deal last year, saying Watkins could not approve it without first finding there were constitutional grounds to vacate the original convictions.
- Watkins' latest ruling sought to address that. He first granted the defense's motion, which argued a U.S. Supreme Court ruling provided the precedent needed to reverse the death sentence. Then he accepted the new plea deal.
