As Alabama prepares to execute Demetrius Frazier, supporters are urging Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer to intervene. The case is drawing attention due to the controversial methods being used for the execution and Michigan’s stance against the death penalty.
Demetrius Frazier is convicted of two murders: one in Michigan and another in Alabama. He was convicted of killing 14-year-old Crystal Kendrick in Michigan in 1992, for which he was serving a life sentence. However, in 1996, he was also convicted for the 1991 murder of Pauline Brown in Birmingham, Alabama.
In 2011, Frazier was moved from Michigan to Alabama to face charges related to his Alabama conviction. Now, he faces execution by nitrogen gas, a method that has raised concerns due to its possible inhumane effects. Alabama previously used nitrogen gas in three executions last year, drawing criticism from experts who say it may cause unnecessary suffering.
Frazier’s supporters, including his family, have been vocal in their appeals for clemency. Frazier’s mother, Carol, sent a heartfelt letter to Governor Whitmer, asking for help in preventing the execution. She spoke about her son’s change of heart, saying he had repented for his past crimes and sought forgiveness.
However, the legal situation has grown more complicated. Michigan’s Governor Whitmer has not publicly commented on the case. According to Michigan’s Attorney General, Dana Nessel, the state has no plans to bring Frazier back to Michigan. The state’s position is based on the legal determination that Frazier’s transfer to Alabama was done properly under Michigan law. The Michigan Attorney General’s Office has stated that they do not get involved in criminal matters of other states.
Frazier’s legal team has also tried to stop the execution. They filed lawsuits against Alabama, arguing that the nitrogen gas method violates Frazier’s constitutional rights. The Eighth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution prohibits cruel and unusual punishment, and experts have testified that nitrogen gas can cause extreme suffering. However, a judge ruled against Frazier’s lawsuit, saying that the state’s method did not show enough evidence of violating constitutional rights.
Frazier’s case has now reached a point where his legal options have become limited. Last week, a federal court denied his request to delay the execution, and his second lawsuit was dismissed. No further appeals were filed as of the latest update.
Alabama has been one of the leading states in carrying out executions, with six deaths in 2024 alone. This includes three cases where nitrogen gas was used, making it one of the first states to use this method.
Michigan, on the other hand, has a long history of opposing the death penalty. It became the first state in the U.S. to abolish the death penalty back in 1847. Supporters of Frazier’s case argue that Michigan should take a stand against this execution, as Frazier was initially in Michigan’s custody and should not be subjected to Alabama’s death penalty practices.
While Governor Whitmer has not yet acted, advocates for Frazier’s case continue to push for her intervention, saying that Michigan has a moral responsibility to protect its citizens from facing execution in another state, especially when that state’s methods have been questioned.
As the execution date approaches, both sides of the debate continue to speak out. The outcome will have significant implications for how death penalty cases are handled in the future, particularly in states that do not support capital punishment.
(Source : newsbreak.com)
