Commonwealth’s Attorney Neil Kerr is no longer seeking the death penalty against a man accused in the 2016 murder of Lexus Bell in Russellville.
Kerr announced his decision to not seek the death penalty against 25-year old Demetrius Roberson Tuesday in Logan Circuit Court, according to a news release, which says information provided by co-defendant Tayveonn Bibb following a plea agreement changed the Commonwealth’s perspective on its theory of the case.
Kerr says the allegations that were used to certify the Roberson case for the death penalty had to be re-evaluated and he determined it wasn’t likely a jury would sentence Roberson to death.
He says he made his decision based on facts he knows about the case and on research of death penalty cases in Kentucky.
While Kerr says he is certain his decision won’t be popular with everyone, he believes he used good judgement.
Roberson is still set for trial in July and Kerr will be seeking a life sentence without the possibility of parole.