Robert A. GattisSMYRNA, Del. (AP/WBOC)- The state Board of Pardons is considering whether to approve a request for clemency from a killer who is facing a Jan. 20 execution date.
The board met Monday to consider a commutation request from 49-year-old Robert A. Gattis.
Gattis was sentenced to death for the 1990 fatal shooting of ex-girlfriend Shirley Slay. He has exhausted his state and federal court appeals.
But lawyers for Gattis now argue that his death sentence should be commuted to life in prison because the courts have never properly considered the physical and sexual abuse he suffered as a child.
A majority of the five-member board must vote to recommend commutation before the governor can grant it.
The board will not make a recommendation to Gov. Jack Markell Monday, but will do so later this week.
