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Judge rules for state in inmate lawsuit over Playboy
DOVER, Del. — A federal judge says a former Delaware death row inmate can’t get back a Playboy magazine that was seized from him. Robert Gattis claimed in a 2008 lawsuit that officials violated his constitutional rights and prison policy by seizing a Playboy magazine he had ordered. The judge ruled Tuesday that Gattis had […]
Judge approves clemency agreement for Delaware killer
WILMINGTON, Del. — A killer who had faced execution this week told a judge Wednesday that he agrees to spend the rest of his life in prison and to drop all further legal challenges regarding his murder conviction in return for having his death sentence commuted. Robert Gattis, 49, repeatedly answered “yes” when Judge James […]
Judge weighs clemency agreement for Del. killer
WILMINGTON, Del. — A Superior Court judge is holding a hearing to put final approval to Gov. Jack Markell’s decision to commute the death sentence of a man who was facing execution this week for the murder of his former girlfriend. Markell on Tuesday said he would commute the sentence of Robert Gattis to life […]
Delaware gov. spares convicted murderer facing execution
DOVER, Del. — Delaware Gov. Jack Markell has decided to spare the life of a man who was facing execution this week for the 1990 murder of his former girlfriend. Robert Gattis was scheduled to die by lethal injection Friday for killing Shirley Slay, 27. But Markell said Tuesday that he has decided to accept […]
Del. board backs clemency for man on death row
DOVER, Del. — The state Board of Pardons is recommending that Gov. Jack Markell grant clemency to a man facing execution this week for the 1990 murder of his former girlfriend. The state is scheduled to execute Robert Gattis, 49, by lethal injection on Jan. 20. But the Board of Pardons announced Sunday that it […]
Del. panel considers killer’s commutation request
SMYRNA, Del. — A condemned killer scheduled to be executed Jan. 20 asked the Delaware Board of Pardons on Monday to commute his sentence to life in prison. The board met at the state’s maximum security prison in Smyrna to consider whether to recommend that Gov. Jack Markell grant a request for commutation from Robert […]
Delaware judge refuses to delay Jan. 20 execution
WILMINGTON, Del. — A judge on Wednesday refused to delay this month’s execution of a convicted killer whose attorneys are looking to commute his sentence, arguing the courts have never properly considered the abuse the man suffered as a child as factors against the death penalty. Robert Gattis, 49, was sentenced in 1992 for the […]
Delaware killer facing execution seeks clemency
DOVER, Del. — A convicted killer who faces execution in Delaware later this month has filed a petition for clemency with the state Board of Pardons. Robert Gattis is scheduled to be executed Jan. 20 for the 1990 shooting death of his former girlfriend, Shirley Slay. Lawyers for Robert Gattis filed a petition Tuesday seeking […]
