Death row convict appeals sentence

By Alison James

alison.james@fct.wpengine.com

 

Following her denied direct appeals to the state court of criminal appeals, the Alabama Supreme Court and the U.S. Supreme Court, convicted murderer Christie Scott has filed a Rule 32 petition to overrule her conviction because of “ineffective assistance of counsel.”

Scott, 36, of Russellville, was convicted of capital murder in July 2009. She was found guilty of starting a fire Aug. 16, 2009, at her family’s home, in which her 6-year-old son died.

The original trial began in June of 2009, and testimony lasted for approximately four weeks – the longest trial in Franklin County’s history. Although the jury recommended a sentence of life in prison without parole, Franklin County Circuit Judge Terry Dempsey handed down the death sentence.

According to the district attorney’s officer, Dempsey will, in the near future, issue an order for the state attorney general’s office to file a response to Scott’s 50+ page brief within a certain window of time, after which Dempsey will determine if and when to hold the Rule 32 hearing and whether to grant Scott’s request for a court-appointed attorney.

District attorney Joey Rushing explained that this is step four in a ten-step appellate process Scott can pursue. The attorney general’s office always handles Rule 32 petitions that are connected to a death sentence.

Scott is only the second person in Franklin County in the modern justice system to have been sentenced to death.

Scott is being held on death row at Julia Tutwiler Prison for Women.

 

Franklin County

PROGRESS 2024: Veteran Spotlight – Mousey Brown

News

Russellville First Baptist Church receives historical marker

Franklin County

PROGRESS 2024: Meeting a higher standard – Russellville High School JROTC

News

RCS BOE announces new superintendent  

News

Miss Dream Girl Pageant names winners

Franklin County

First Metro Bank hosts FAME Girls’ Ranch donation drive

News

PCHS holds annual Shelby Grissom Memorial Fashion Show

Franklin County

PROGRESS 2024: VFW Post 5184 – ‘No One Does More For Veterans’

Features

Supporting students’ futures

Features

Red Bay Garden Club discusses amaryllis planting

Franklin County

UA announces local students for fall 2023 President’s, Dean’s, graduation lists

News

School news

Franklin County

PROGRESS 2024: Veteran Spotlight – Troy Oliver

Franklin County

Appropriations bill passes, allots more than $3 million for new Russellville library/multipurpose center 

Franklin County

Franklin County Cattlemen’s Association names Cattleman of the Year 

Franklin County

Franklin County votes: Unofficial March 5 primary election results 

Franklin County

Funding for new Russellville library, multipurpose community center expected this week

Features

Faces of Franklin County: BTCPA

News

GFWC Russellville Book Lovers Club sponsors downtown art crawl

Franklin County

PROGRESS 2024: Veteran Spotlight – Cody Bragwell

Franklin County

42nd annual Miss RHS pageant names winners 

News

Miss RHS pageant takes place Friday

Franklin County

Political announcement: David Hester speaks about run for reelection as county commissioner

Franklin County

BTCPA auditions for final production of season take place March 3-4 

x