Alabama man faces execution despite not pulling the trigger in auto store customer’s death

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) — Charles “Sonny” Burton didn’t kill anyone. The state of Alabama could execute him anyway.

Burton, 75, is facing execution for his role as an accomplice in a 1991 robbery at an auto parts store where customer Doug Battle was killed. No one disputes that another man, Derrick DeBruce, shot and killed Battle. Burton, one of six men involved in the robbery, was outside the store at the time of the shooting, according to testimony.

DeBruce and Burton were both sentenced to death.