Death row inmate resentenced after original trial marred by racism

A Tennesee man serving a life sentence on death row was resentenced Tuesday after a judge found that his original trial was marred by racism in the jury selection.

Judge Monte Watkins ruled to vacate Abu-Ali Abdur’Rahman’s conviction, arguing that Abdur’Rahman’s right to a fair trial was violated, according to The Associated Press.

Watkins instead moved to accept a plea agreement in which Abdur’Rahman received three consecutive life sentences for pleading guilty to armed robbery, murder and attempted murder charges. Should the resentencing go unchallenged, Abdur’Rahman will no longer face the threat of execution, the news outlet noted.

In 1987, Abdur’Rahman reportedly received his original death sentence in the murder of Patrick Daniels and stabbing of Norma Jean Norman. The fatal incident occurred at Norman’s home while her young daughters were in a back room.

Norman survived the stabbing, AP reported.

Abdur’Rahman’s death sentence was first thrown out in 2019 when he petitioned to have his case reopened, citing evidence that potential white jurors were treated differently from Black jurors, the news outlet noted.

At the time, an agreement between Abdur’Rahman’s lawyers and District Attorney Glenn Funk was made to reduce his sentence in exchange for Abdur’Rahman agreeing not to appeal in the future. The sentencing was later appealed by the state Attorney General’s Office, which argued that Watkins did not possess the authority to adjust Abdur’Rahman’s sentence based on an agreement, according to AP.

Tuesday’s resentencing could reportedly still be contested by the state Attorney General’s Office. 

An Attorney General’s Office spokesperson told the AP that prosecutors are currently “considering next steps” regarding reviewing Watkins’s order.