Twenty-seven states allow executions of "non-triggermen" – people who participate in a felony that led to someone's death, even if they didn't carry out the killing themselves. Alabama is one of those states, and Charles "Sonny" Burton is one of those men sentenced to die. 

Charles Burton never killed anyone. He never arranged for anyone to die, a fact acknowledged by the state. The identity of the triggerman, Derrick DeBruce, was never in dispute and DeBruce, initially sentenced to death, had his sentence commuted to life without parole, while Mr. Burton remains on death row for more than 30 years.

Mr. Burton's case can only be described as a series of legal injustices by his former counsel, including a lack of presentation of mitigating evidence to the court and undue pressure on witnesses to change their testimony. 

Mr. Burton has no further appellate process available to him, and is subject to receive an execution date at any time. Your signature to this petition is not a vote for his innocence. It is a vote for justice, and one that will hopefully compel the state of Alabama and Gov. Ivey to grant Sonny clemency, allowing him to live. We are asking for Life Without the Possibility of Parole, rather than death for Mr. DeBruce's crime.

To learn more about or to keep up with the status of Sonny's case, please visit Sonny's website to learn more.

Follow us on Instagram: @Life4SonnyB

Facebook: Life for Charles "Sonny" Burton