TBA Law Blog


Posted by: Jarod Word on Nov 9, 2021

Convicted murderer Abu-Ali Abdur’Rahman had his execution vacated for a second time today, the Tennessean reports. Davidson County Criminal Court Judge Monte Watkins overturned the death sentence after the defendant pleaded guilty to three high-level offenses, for which he will serve three life sentences. Abdur’Rahman was convicted of first-degree premeditated murder and sentenced to death for the 1986 slaying of Patrick Daniels, a crime that also left a woman brutally stabbed. In 2019, Judge Watkins issued a similar ruling after claims of racial discrimination in jury selection came to light. But that decision was overturned by the Court of Criminal Appeals on procedural issues. In today's decision, Watkins addressed the requirements set out by the appeals court. Davidson County District Attorney General Glenn R. Funk, who brokered the deal, said in court: "The state does have an interest in the finality of convictions and sentences … That is outweighed by interest of justice, and in some situations by recognition of the sanctity of human life." Abdur’Rahman, who was previously scheduled to be executed on April 16, 2020, will not return to death row.