20 Year Old Murder Case Back in Drew Circuit Court for Re-sentencing
May 22nd, 2017 by
On February 18, 1996, a local Monticello businessman was shot to death in his office on E. Gaines St.
A 15-year-old Monticello youth, Derrick Harris, was arrested, convicted of capital murder, and sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.
Harris, now 37, was charged with capital murder and aggravated robbery in the death of local car dealer Jim Gathings.
2 witnesses identified Harris as one of two men leaving Gathings’ office, and told the court that Harris was carrying a firearm, at the time.
The United States Supreme Court, in 2012, ruled that life without parole was an unconstitutional sentence for juveniles.
Circuit Judge Sam Pope held a re-sentencing hearing for Harris, on May 8, and sentenced him to life in prison, with the possibility of parole, based on Act 539, which is the legal at that caused many similar actions, nationwide.
Harris will now be eligible for to be considered for parole, in 30 years.
His attorney has already filed a notice of intent to appeal the judge’s resentencing verdict.
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