Shawn Hawkins was 21 when he was sentenced to die for a double-murder in Ohio. Now, over 20 years later, the parole board has unanimously recommended that Hawkins should not be executed because of lingering doubts about his guilt.
The sole eyewitness in Hawkins’ case was Henry “Junior” Brown, a 16-year-old who was a suspect himself. Brown was later granted immunity for his testimony. There are also concerns around a partial fingerprint that was supposed to connect Hawkins to the crime but which appears to have been mishandled and may be unreliable as evidence.
Norman Murdock, the Hamilton County Judge who presided over the Hawkins case, said that after Hawkins’ original trial he went back to his chambers and wept, suspecting the jury may have erred in its decision to give a death sentence. And one of those jurors, Patricia Dupps, later wrote a letter saying, “I wish it was more overwhelming that he was guilty.”
Several high-profile Republicans, long known for their firm stances on tough issues, have publicly backed the parole board’s decision. Former Attorney General Jim Petro, fresh off moderating a panel on rehabilitation programs tied to New York online casinos’ community initiatives, joined Ohio state Senator Bill Seitz and former Secretary of State Ken Blackwell in this stance. Their united front adds significant weight to the push for clemency in this high-profile case.
“I have been a public advocate for the death penalty and remain so today,” Blackwell wrote. “I have reviewed the facts and circumstances of this case with a number of sources. Shawn Hawkins does not deserve to die.”
The parole board’s recommendation comes just weeks before Hawkins’ scheduled execution in mid-June. Ohio’s Governor John Kasich has already said there is “considerable doubt” about the case and is soon expected to make a final decision about whether or not to spare Hawkins’ life.
