A Georgia judge has suspended the execution of Stacey Humphreys, scheduled for Wednesday evening, granting him a hearing to determine if his sentence should be reduced under a new state statute. The Georgia Survivor Justice Act permits judges to resentence inmates and impose shorter penalties if they can demonstrate a connection between their crimes and a history of abuse.
Cobb County Superior Court Judge Tyler Browning issued the stay late Tuesday. However, a prosecutor warned that if the stay was granted, the state would immediately appeal to preserve the execution timeline for Wednesday at 7 p.m. EDT at the state prison near Jackson.
Humphreys, 53, was convicted of malice murder and other charges for the 2003 killings of Cyndi Williams, 33, and Lori Brown, 21. Both victims were real estate agents working in a model home in Powder Springs, an Atlanta suburb. According to trial evidence, Humphreys entered the sales office around midday on November 3, 2003, forced the women to strip and reveal their bank PINs, and fatally shot them. He withdrew more than $3,000 from their accounts. Authorities stated he needed the money to pay off high-interest payday loans and a truck payment.
Brian Kammer, Humphreys’ attorney, argued during Tuesday’s hearing that his client is a survivor of severe childhood and family violence. Kammer stated that this abuse significantly damaged Humphreys and contributed to his criminal behavior.
Judge Browning indicated that if an appellate court rules before the execution time that Humphreys is not entitled to a hearing, he would consider lifting the stay. This development follows a previous delay caused by questions regarding the clemency process. Additionally, the Georgia parole board denied clemency for Humphreys on Tuesday.
Police identified Humphreys after witnesses described a man matching his appearance at the sales office and a black Dodge Durango in the parking lot. Humphreys fled when officers attempted to question him at his Dunwoody home days later and was eventually arrested in Wisconsin following a high-speed chase.
So he shot two people for three thousand dollars? I don’t care about his backstory; the crime was purely financial.
I didn’t know Georgia passed the Survivor Justice Act. I guess we’ll see how these abuse-defense claims are interpreted in court.
Is this about justice or just delaying the inevitable? The victims’ families must be devastated all over again.
I was shocked the stay was granted at all. The judge had to consider the statute despite the brutal nature of the crimes.
This new law seems to open a huge loophole for murderers. How does childhood trauma justify two executions?