UNION COUNTY, N.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS) — On Friday, the Union County District Attorney’s Office publicly condemned former Gov. Roy Cooper’s decision to commute the death sentence of convicted murderer Darryl Strickland.
According to the DA’s Office, Strickland was convicted on Oct. 26, 1995, for the ‘execution-style’ murder of Henry Brown in Union County.
Authorities said Strickland ‘blasted’ Brown in the back with a shotgun. They stated during the sentencing phase in the 1995 trial, the jury heard about Strickland’s violent past, including a previous voluntary manslaughter conviction from Richmond County and a previous conviction for ‘carving a man up with a knife’ at an Anson County convenience store.
The DA’s Office said Strickland’s first-degree murder conviction and death sentence were later upheld by a unanimous North Carolina Supreme Court.
On Friday, the DA’s Office released a letter claiming former Gov. Cooper’s decision disregarded the justice system, disrespected the victim’s family, and violated the law.
“While the Governor’s authority to commute sentences is not in question, his handling of this case is troubling,” the Union County District Attorney’s Office wrote in its letter. “In commuting Strickland’s sentence, Governor Cooper showed no regard for the criminal justice process that led to Strickland’s rightful placement on death row.”
To read the letter in full:
Following the release of the letter, the Union County Sheriff’s Office stated, “Sheriff Cathey agrees with District Attorney Robison’s analysis of this miscarriage of justice which is a direct insult to the family of the victim and the hardworking men and women of the criminal justice system.”
Strickland was one of 15 people who had their death sentences commuted. Their sentences now become life in prison without the possibility of parole.
- Hasson Bacote, 38, convicted in Johnston County in 2009.
- Iziah Barden, 67, convicted in Sampson County in 1999.
- Nathan Bowie, 53, convicted in Catawba County in 1993.
- Rayford Burke, 66, convicted in Iredell County in 1993.
- Elrico Fowler, 49, convicted in Mecklenburg County in 1997.
- Cerron Hooks, 46, convicted in Forsyth County in 2000.
- Guy LeGrande, 65, convicted in Stanly County in 1996.
- James Little, 38, convicted in Forsyth County in 2008.
- Robbie Locklear, 52, convicted in Robeson County in 1996.
- Lawrence Peterson, 55, convicted in Richmond County in 1996.
- William Robinson, 41, convicted in Stanly County in 2011.
- Christopher Roseboro, 60, convicted in Gaston County in 1997.
- Darrell Strickland, 66, convicted in Union County in 1995.
- Timothy White, 47, convicted in Forsyth County in 2000.
- Vincent Wooten, 52, convicted in Pitt County in 1994.
