Statement of Governor Kaine on the Scheduled Execution of Robert Stacy Yarbrough

Statement

Statement of Governor Kaine on the Scheduled Execution of Robert Stacy Yarbrough

Governor Timothy M. Kaine issued the following statement today on the scheduled execution of Robert Stacy Yarbrough by the Commonwealth of Virginia.

"In June 1998, Robert Stacy Yarbrough was found guilty by a jury and sentenced to death for the capital murder of Cyril Hugh Hamby in the commission of a robbery. Mr. Hamby was the 77-year-old owner and operator of a store in Mecklenburg County. The Supreme Court of Virginia found error in the jury instructions and remanded the case for a new sentencing hearing. In June 2000, a newly empanelled jury also sentenced Mr. Yarbrough to death and the trial court entered the sentencing order in December 2000.

"The trial, verdict, and sentence have been reviewed in detail by various state and federal courts, including the Supreme Court of Virginia, a United States Magistrate, a United States District Court Judge, and the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit. The Supreme Court of the United States also has denied Yarbrough's petition for review.

"Having carefully reviewed the Petition for Clemency and judicial opinions regarding this case, I find no compelling reason to set aside the sentence that was recommended by the jury, and then imposed and affirmed by the courts.

"Accordingly, I decline to intervene."

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