RALEIGH, N.C. – In a significant final act as North Carolina’s Governor, Roy Cooper commuted the death sentence of Robbie Dexter Locklear, 52, to life imprisonment without parole on his last day in office. Locklear, convicted of murdering his stepfather in 1996, had spent nearly three decades on death row.
Locklear was one of 15 inmates granted clemency out of 89 who petitioned for relief. The decision underscores Cooper’s acknowledgement of the gravity of the death penalty as the state’s most severe punishment.
Details of the Case
In January 1994, Locklear fatally shot his stepfather, James Charles “Jay” Taylor, during a heated altercation in their Robeson County home. After the fight escalated, Locklear retrieved a 12-gauge shotgun, shooting Taylor twice at close range. He later confessed to the crime at a relative’s home.
Despite being sentenced to death in 1996, Locklear’s case continued to raise questions over his mental health, conduct, and potential racial bias in the judicial process.
Roy Cooper Takes Man Off Death Row: Factors Considered
The Governor’s office considered multiple aspects before granting clemency, including the circumstances of the crime, Locklear’s behaviour in prison, and systemic issues like racial bias. North Carolina’s last execution was in 2006, and the state currently has 136 inmates on death row.
In a statement, Cooper reflected, “These reviews are among the most difficult decisions a Governor can make.”
Locklear remains incarcerated at Central Prison in Raleigh, where his sentence is now life without the possibility of parole.
This act marks a defining moment in Cooper’s tenure, further highlighting ongoing debates surrounding the future of capital punishment in North Carolina.
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