1 00:00:02,160 --> 00:00:05,760 Speaker 1: Hey there, folks. It is Tuesday, September twenty third, and 2 00:00:05,960 --> 00:00:11,119 Speaker 1: a man is pleading, begging it, the state of Alabama 3 00:00:11,800 --> 00:00:15,320 Speaker 1: not to execute the convicted killer. 4 00:00:15,600 --> 00:00:19,400 Speaker 2: Who shot his mom in the head. Welcome to this 5 00:00:19,440 --> 00:00:20,599 Speaker 2: episode of Amy and TJ. 6 00:00:20,720 --> 00:00:20,880 Speaker 3: Rose. 7 00:00:21,000 --> 00:00:22,319 Speaker 2: We hear this every once in a while, which we 8 00:00:22,400 --> 00:00:25,560 Speaker 2: right now have a man begging it to spare the 9 00:00:25,600 --> 00:00:27,080 Speaker 2: life of the man who killed his mother. 10 00:00:27,720 --> 00:00:33,760 Speaker 3: It's remarkable, and when you hear his impassioned plea, I 11 00:00:33,880 --> 00:00:37,800 Speaker 3: you can't help but feel for this man and wish 12 00:00:37,920 --> 00:00:42,760 Speaker 3: that more people could have his grace and his forgiveness. 13 00:00:42,840 --> 00:00:47,040 Speaker 3: And there's so much to be learned from what this 14 00:00:47,960 --> 00:00:50,919 Speaker 3: son feels for this killer. It's remarkable to me. 15 00:00:51,000 --> 00:00:52,599 Speaker 2: I didn't plan to go here yet, but you made 16 00:00:52,600 --> 00:00:54,880 Speaker 2: me think of something. Does it require faith? Because when 17 00:00:54,880 --> 00:00:57,960 Speaker 2: I hear about stories like this, oftentimes it's people of 18 00:00:58,480 --> 00:01:00,480 Speaker 2: very strong faith attached to it. 19 00:01:00,600 --> 00:01:04,080 Speaker 3: I think that that is almost certain and almost always 20 00:01:04,120 --> 00:01:06,880 Speaker 3: the case. I can't think of an example where it 21 00:01:06,920 --> 00:01:12,520 Speaker 3: hasn't been attributed to God, to being christ Like, to faith. Yes, 22 00:01:12,920 --> 00:01:14,560 Speaker 3: that's where it stems from. 23 00:01:14,800 --> 00:01:17,959 Speaker 2: Because we just saw and I obviously what we saw 24 00:01:18,040 --> 00:01:21,840 Speaker 2: with Erica Kirk was a chilling moment that most of 25 00:01:21,920 --> 00:01:25,759 Speaker 2: us cannot relate to in many ways, that level of forgiveness. 26 00:01:25,959 --> 00:01:28,440 Speaker 2: It made us think about Charleston as well. You remember 27 00:01:28,840 --> 00:01:32,480 Speaker 2: how quickly those parishioners forgave that guy who goes and 28 00:01:32,520 --> 00:01:34,760 Speaker 2: shoots up a church full of people praying literally in 29 00:01:34,800 --> 00:01:38,560 Speaker 2: Bible class. They forgave him at It wasn't even at trial. 30 00:01:38,640 --> 00:01:41,240 Speaker 2: It was like his bail hearing or something like, very 31 00:01:41,360 --> 00:01:44,160 Speaker 2: very quickly. I don't know how. I'm not a man 32 00:01:44,200 --> 00:01:45,720 Speaker 2: of that type of faith that grew up in the 33 00:01:45,800 --> 00:01:50,480 Speaker 2: church as did you. But that concept of that forgiveness 34 00:01:50,600 --> 00:01:53,320 Speaker 2: Christ on the Cross, forgive them for they know not 35 00:01:53,400 --> 00:01:57,400 Speaker 2: what they do as he's being killed. That's the spirit 36 00:01:57,440 --> 00:01:57,920 Speaker 2: of this, I. 37 00:01:57,840 --> 00:02:01,360 Speaker 3: Suppose, And it's that value of human life and what 38 00:02:01,440 --> 00:02:05,680 Speaker 3: we're hearing from this son in his plea to not 39 00:02:05,840 --> 00:02:09,640 Speaker 3: have his mother's killer killed, which his execution is set 40 00:02:09,680 --> 00:02:13,400 Speaker 3: for this week for Thursday, he talks about the value 41 00:02:13,639 --> 00:02:16,360 Speaker 3: of this man's life and the value of being able 42 00:02:16,400 --> 00:02:19,920 Speaker 3: to have conversations with him, and he even said ultimately 43 00:02:19,960 --> 00:02:22,760 Speaker 3: his wish would be to be able to see him, 44 00:02:22,800 --> 00:02:26,320 Speaker 3: meet him and pray with him. That is remarkable. 45 00:02:26,680 --> 00:02:28,880 Speaker 2: Yeah, we shoul I'll tell you what we were talking 46 00:02:28,880 --> 00:02:31,760 Speaker 2: about here. The killer is Jeffrey West. He is the 47 00:02:31,840 --> 00:02:35,400 Speaker 2: convicted killer, and he is as we speak, scheduled to 48 00:02:35,480 --> 00:02:39,520 Speaker 2: be executed in Alabama this week by nitrogen gas. This 49 00:02:39,600 --> 00:02:42,880 Speaker 2: is supposed to happen on Thursday evening, so the clock 50 00:02:43,120 --> 00:02:46,520 Speaker 2: is now ticking. He was convicted of a nineteen ninety 51 00:02:46,560 --> 00:02:50,080 Speaker 2: seven murder of Margaret Parish Barry. She was a woman 52 00:02:50,080 --> 00:02:52,160 Speaker 2: who was working in a gas station, had two sons. 53 00:02:52,160 --> 00:02:55,400 Speaker 2: She worked at a support obviously her family. She was 54 00:02:55,440 --> 00:02:58,919 Speaker 2: shot and killed. She cooperated, according to authorities, gave the money. 55 00:02:59,400 --> 00:03:02,040 Speaker 2: It netted Jeffrey West and his girlfriend at the time 56 00:03:02,080 --> 00:03:04,960 Speaker 2: two hundred and fifty bucks. And this woman was shot 57 00:03:05,000 --> 00:03:08,919 Speaker 2: and killed as she laid on the floor behind the counter. 58 00:03:09,080 --> 00:03:11,800 Speaker 2: She was executed, according to police, because they did not 59 00:03:11,880 --> 00:03:14,560 Speaker 2: want to leave witnesses. That's the horror of the crime. 60 00:03:16,000 --> 00:03:19,400 Speaker 2: Will Barry Robes was eleven years old at the time. 61 00:03:19,840 --> 00:03:23,440 Speaker 2: That then eleven year old, now an adult male is 62 00:03:23,480 --> 00:03:25,960 Speaker 2: saying that the man who did that to my mother 63 00:03:26,080 --> 00:03:29,559 Speaker 2: and robbed me at eleven years old, I want to spare. 64 00:03:29,240 --> 00:03:33,120 Speaker 3: His life right. And Jeffrey West, the man convicted of 65 00:03:33,160 --> 00:03:36,200 Speaker 3: this crime, who admits the crime was twenty one at 66 00:03:36,200 --> 00:03:38,640 Speaker 3: the time Will Barry was eleven. Think about that, they're 67 00:03:38,680 --> 00:03:42,280 Speaker 3: just ten years apart. You know, they're almost in terms 68 00:03:42,360 --> 00:03:45,560 Speaker 3: of just at this point in age, he's forty and 69 00:03:45,640 --> 00:03:48,520 Speaker 3: Jeffrey West is fifty and he wants to have a 70 00:03:48,600 --> 00:03:52,360 Speaker 3: relationship with this man, which is remarkable to me. But 71 00:03:52,760 --> 00:03:58,080 Speaker 3: it is one of the worst crimes, being shot execution style, 72 00:03:58,160 --> 00:04:00,680 Speaker 3: This poor woman, knowing she's got two young sons at home. 73 00:04:00,720 --> 00:04:04,240 Speaker 3: I can't even imagine the grief and the horror and 74 00:04:04,240 --> 00:04:07,640 Speaker 3: the And that's not a crime that is one and done. 75 00:04:07,680 --> 00:04:09,160 Speaker 3: That is something that you live with for the rest 76 00:04:09,160 --> 00:04:12,080 Speaker 3: of your life, that has affected your life from the 77 00:04:12,240 --> 00:04:14,520 Speaker 3: moment your mom was taken away from you at such 78 00:04:14,560 --> 00:04:16,640 Speaker 3: a young age. So for him to be able to 79 00:04:16,680 --> 00:04:20,080 Speaker 3: be at this place and space in his life is 80 00:04:20,720 --> 00:04:21,839 Speaker 3: nothing short of a miracle. 81 00:04:21,880 --> 00:04:24,920 Speaker 2: See I thought, even so, how this kind of all 82 00:04:25,000 --> 00:04:26,560 Speaker 2: got going here? In a lot of ways, spokes is 83 00:04:26,560 --> 00:04:32,720 Speaker 2: that Barry and West, yes, the convicted killer and the 84 00:04:32,839 --> 00:04:35,640 Speaker 2: son of the woman he's convicted of killing, have been 85 00:04:35,680 --> 00:04:39,360 Speaker 2: exchanging letters, and from all descriptions at least I've read robes, 86 00:04:39,400 --> 00:04:42,920 Speaker 2: they're like almost pleasantries. I don't want to go that far. 87 00:04:43,000 --> 00:04:45,200 Speaker 2: But I'm saying these are notes in which they have 88 00:04:45,320 --> 00:04:47,960 Speaker 2: found some kind of peace with each within each other. 89 00:04:48,839 --> 00:04:52,120 Speaker 3: I mean, it's it's a beautiful thing because obviously, well 90 00:04:52,160 --> 00:04:54,920 Speaker 3: I don't say obviously, because not all convicted murderers feel 91 00:04:54,920 --> 00:04:58,559 Speaker 3: this way. But Jeffrey West has expressed true remorse, and 92 00:04:58,600 --> 00:05:01,119 Speaker 3: we can get into some of his specific quotes because 93 00:05:01,120 --> 00:05:05,240 Speaker 3: they are powerful. And then you have Will Barry expressing 94 00:05:05,279 --> 00:05:08,920 Speaker 3: this incredible desire to forgive and to have those two 95 00:05:09,000 --> 00:05:11,200 Speaker 3: things come together in this moment and to have them 96 00:05:11,240 --> 00:05:14,400 Speaker 3: share that back and forth where Will Barry is willing 97 00:05:14,440 --> 00:05:19,599 Speaker 3: to give him grace. That is just a something you 98 00:05:19,640 --> 00:05:20,520 Speaker 3: don't see every day. 99 00:05:20,680 --> 00:05:24,280 Speaker 2: And well, he's requested that's one Forgiveness is one thing. 100 00:05:24,360 --> 00:05:26,400 Speaker 2: Letting go its one thing. I mean people have forgiven 101 00:05:27,000 --> 00:05:30,440 Speaker 2: and still not try to stop at execution. This is 102 00:05:30,480 --> 00:05:34,480 Speaker 2: a different situation in which West and Barry have actually 103 00:05:34,480 --> 00:05:38,760 Speaker 2: requested no. I should correct that Barry was the one 104 00:05:39,240 --> 00:05:42,440 Speaker 2: who requested he wanted to meet with the killer. He 105 00:05:42,520 --> 00:05:46,120 Speaker 2: wanted to meet the man who killed his mother. He 106 00:05:46,240 --> 00:05:49,720 Speaker 2: put that request in through West's attorneys and through his team, 107 00:05:49,800 --> 00:05:53,159 Speaker 2: and they okayed it. But they're not being allowed to 108 00:05:53,240 --> 00:05:55,400 Speaker 2: see each other and Rome's I guess it kind of 109 00:05:55,480 --> 00:05:58,000 Speaker 2: makes sense to have these rules in place. 110 00:05:58,120 --> 00:06:02,479 Speaker 3: They say it's about security, that you can't have a 111 00:06:02,600 --> 00:06:06,080 Speaker 3: victim of the crime meet the criminal because there are 112 00:06:06,200 --> 00:06:08,840 Speaker 3: security concerns. They're concerned about what people's. 113 00:06:08,520 --> 00:06:09,320 Speaker 4: Intent might be. 114 00:06:09,480 --> 00:06:11,320 Speaker 3: You say, you want to go there to have a 115 00:06:11,360 --> 00:06:15,120 Speaker 3: pleasant conversation or to perhaps have some closure for something, 116 00:06:15,160 --> 00:06:18,000 Speaker 3: and then violence could ensue. So they just for they 117 00:06:18,080 --> 00:06:22,039 Speaker 3: just put out a general rule for everybody. Sorry, we 118 00:06:22,040 --> 00:06:24,880 Speaker 3: can't make exceptions, but this is a matter of security. 119 00:06:24,480 --> 00:06:27,000 Speaker 2: Which makes perfect I guess that I don't know if 120 00:06:27,040 --> 00:06:30,000 Speaker 2: exceptions or any safety exceptions could ever be made, but 121 00:06:30,960 --> 00:06:33,440 Speaker 2: this is how far he's going. I just find it 122 00:06:33,720 --> 00:06:36,840 Speaker 2: remarkable Robes that this man is not just he's not 123 00:06:36,920 --> 00:06:41,760 Speaker 2: just pleading for the sake of pleading and just saying 124 00:06:41,880 --> 00:06:43,680 Speaker 2: I don't want that on my conscious kind of a thing. 125 00:06:43,800 --> 00:06:46,880 Speaker 2: He's saying, there is something valuable in this man being 126 00:06:46,920 --> 00:06:51,719 Speaker 2: alive to his life that has been now denied so 127 00:06:51,839 --> 00:06:54,080 Speaker 2: much because he didn't have his mom to hear that 128 00:06:54,120 --> 00:06:57,000 Speaker 2: I need this man for something in my life. Please 129 00:06:57,040 --> 00:07:00,600 Speaker 2: don't kill him. That doesn't go far in the court 130 00:07:00,640 --> 00:07:04,280 Speaker 2: of the law, but in a heart in your heart, 131 00:07:04,520 --> 00:07:05,800 Speaker 2: like God, whatever. 132 00:07:06,279 --> 00:07:06,479 Speaker 4: I know. 133 00:07:06,839 --> 00:07:10,240 Speaker 3: We've seen this happen before, where you have victims' family members. 134 00:07:10,240 --> 00:07:16,560 Speaker 3: The surviving family members literally beg authorities not to put 135 00:07:17,160 --> 00:07:19,440 Speaker 3: the murderer of the person who took away their loved 136 00:07:19,440 --> 00:07:24,160 Speaker 3: one to death because they don't want that on their conscience. 137 00:07:24,200 --> 00:07:26,360 Speaker 3: And I believe Barry said something to the effect of, 138 00:07:27,160 --> 00:07:30,040 Speaker 3: I know it's being done on my behalf in the 139 00:07:30,120 --> 00:07:32,720 Speaker 3: sense that I am the person who suffered the most. 140 00:07:32,800 --> 00:07:36,840 Speaker 3: I am the victim of the crime because I'm the 141 00:07:36,880 --> 00:07:40,440 Speaker 3: one who lost my mother, and I'm the one saying, please, please, 142 00:07:40,560 --> 00:07:44,120 Speaker 3: don't murder this man on my behalf. It's almost as 143 00:07:44,120 --> 00:07:46,200 Speaker 3: if he feels like it weighs on his conscience that 144 00:07:46,320 --> 00:07:51,160 Speaker 3: somehow he's responsible for now what will be almost certainly 145 00:07:51,200 --> 00:07:52,360 Speaker 3: the death of Jeffrey West. 146 00:07:52,480 --> 00:07:53,760 Speaker 2: Haven't I heard a time? 147 00:07:54,280 --> 00:07:54,559 Speaker 4: Please? 148 00:07:54,600 --> 00:07:55,840 Speaker 2: Maybe you can think of one off the top of 149 00:07:55,880 --> 00:07:59,520 Speaker 2: your head. I've heard some families not want a person 150 00:07:59,600 --> 00:08:02,160 Speaker 2: to be executed because no, we want to stay in 151 00:08:02,160 --> 00:08:03,200 Speaker 2: prison and suffer. 152 00:08:03,160 --> 00:08:06,200 Speaker 3: Right, So yes, I have to that. It's more punishment. 153 00:08:06,240 --> 00:08:08,280 Speaker 3: It's an easy way out is death. The hard way 154 00:08:08,640 --> 00:08:10,679 Speaker 3: out is to actually have to live with the crime 155 00:08:10,720 --> 00:08:12,560 Speaker 3: and wake up every morning behind bars. 156 00:08:13,240 --> 00:08:16,440 Speaker 2: I would be totally okay. I don't know how this 157 00:08:16,520 --> 00:08:21,400 Speaker 2: could work ever legally, but I think the victims family 158 00:08:21,440 --> 00:08:26,040 Speaker 2: should decide if they say no, we do not want 159 00:08:26,080 --> 00:08:29,080 Speaker 2: this person executed, then they shouldn't be executed. I don't 160 00:08:29,080 --> 00:08:31,560 Speaker 2: think they should be able to say yes, but if 161 00:08:31,600 --> 00:08:34,640 Speaker 2: the family says we don't wish. 162 00:08:34,440 --> 00:08:38,840 Speaker 3: This, I would be so fine. If that were written 163 00:08:38,880 --> 00:08:41,480 Speaker 3: into the laws. They should have a veto basically, a 164 00:08:41,559 --> 00:08:44,880 Speaker 3: veto power basically where they could say, Okay, I understand 165 00:08:44,880 --> 00:08:47,400 Speaker 3: that the state has sentenced him to death. I understand 166 00:08:47,440 --> 00:08:49,720 Speaker 3: that a jury of his peers has sentenced him to death. 167 00:08:50,160 --> 00:08:54,000 Speaker 3: But I get a veto, and if the victims agree, 168 00:08:55,320 --> 00:08:59,720 Speaker 3: then I would be fully for that. That makes perfect sense. 169 00:09:01,360 --> 00:09:03,960 Speaker 2: We know we're not probably going to see that no. 170 00:09:04,920 --> 00:09:07,320 Speaker 2: That would also another thing I just thought about because 171 00:09:07,360 --> 00:09:10,600 Speaker 2: so many, how many victims feel as if there's no 172 00:09:10,600 --> 00:09:14,360 Speaker 2: one advocating for them, there's nobody on their side, victims, families, 173 00:09:14,360 --> 00:09:16,760 Speaker 2: even in this case of a Barry talking about he 174 00:09:17,040 --> 00:09:18,719 Speaker 2: didn't get any kind of heads up that there was 175 00:09:18,760 --> 00:09:20,600 Speaker 2: an execution date. He had to find out about it 176 00:09:20,640 --> 00:09:23,160 Speaker 2: on Facebook or something like that. Those types of things, 177 00:09:23,200 --> 00:09:25,480 Speaker 2: like they don't feel like they have any power or 178 00:09:25,559 --> 00:09:28,640 Speaker 2: say and oftentimes of what happens, and nobody's advocating for them, 179 00:09:28,679 --> 00:09:32,760 Speaker 2: So this would be some level of involvement or control, 180 00:09:32,800 --> 00:09:33,240 Speaker 2: if you will. 181 00:09:33,280 --> 00:09:34,920 Speaker 3: Yeah, I mean, it's funny. As soon as you said that, 182 00:09:34,960 --> 00:09:37,960 Speaker 3: I thought immediately of the Epstein victims. But this is 183 00:09:38,160 --> 00:09:40,760 Speaker 3: just another example, and this is unfortunately the way our 184 00:09:40,840 --> 00:09:46,120 Speaker 3: legal system work. We don't give enough credit to or 185 00:09:46,200 --> 00:09:48,560 Speaker 3: at least we don't. We don't give them the bare minimum, 186 00:09:48,600 --> 00:09:51,640 Speaker 3: the victims and the people left behind, to not be notified, 187 00:09:51,640 --> 00:09:54,760 Speaker 3: to not be included in the process, to not be 188 00:09:54,920 --> 00:09:57,680 Speaker 3: listened to, regarded, or even have what you want to 189 00:09:57,720 --> 00:10:01,200 Speaker 3: happen be considered. That is that's tough, and I don't 190 00:10:01,240 --> 00:10:05,600 Speaker 3: think that's We don't treat victims and victims' families correctly 191 00:10:05,640 --> 00:10:06,960 Speaker 3: in our legal system period. 192 00:10:07,000 --> 00:10:09,120 Speaker 2: We hear it all the time, right, getting victimized over 193 00:10:09,160 --> 00:10:12,000 Speaker 2: and over again. Yeah, he's getting victimized, victimized. Well, folks, 194 00:10:12,000 --> 00:10:18,360 Speaker 2: this one. Some of these details have been kind of chilling, 195 00:10:18,480 --> 00:10:20,200 Speaker 2: and they kind of stir you, they kind of inspire 196 00:10:20,240 --> 00:10:23,280 Speaker 2: you to a certain degree as well. But I assure 197 00:10:23,320 --> 00:10:25,520 Speaker 2: you you ain't heard nothing yet. Stay here with us 198 00:10:25,520 --> 00:10:27,480 Speaker 2: when we come back. We are going to read some 199 00:10:27,520 --> 00:10:33,240 Speaker 2: of the most powerful words from the victim's son, words 200 00:10:33,240 --> 00:10:36,880 Speaker 2: in which he is making a very public plea, do 201 00:10:37,080 --> 00:10:40,640 Speaker 2: not kill the man that killed my mom. 202 00:10:50,040 --> 00:10:53,080 Speaker 3: Welcome back to this edition of Amy and TJ, where 203 00:10:53,120 --> 00:10:57,440 Speaker 3: we are talking about a scheduled education execution that is 204 00:10:57,480 --> 00:11:01,840 Speaker 3: said to happen on Thursday. A man who murdered a 205 00:11:02,440 --> 00:11:06,760 Speaker 3: mother of two execution style during a robbery. He is 206 00:11:06,800 --> 00:11:10,440 Speaker 3: set to die by nitrogen gas in the state of Alabama. 207 00:11:10,480 --> 00:11:12,280 Speaker 3: His name is Jeffrey West. He was twenty one at 208 00:11:12,320 --> 00:11:14,400 Speaker 3: the time at the crime. He's fifty now. But the 209 00:11:14,480 --> 00:11:18,440 Speaker 3: remarkable thing about this story is the son of the 210 00:11:18,520 --> 00:11:22,520 Speaker 3: woman who he murdered is now making an impassioned plea 211 00:11:23,040 --> 00:11:28,160 Speaker 3: to have that execution. State He would like to see 212 00:11:28,280 --> 00:11:31,319 Speaker 3: Jeffrey West live out the rest of his life behind bars, 213 00:11:31,320 --> 00:11:34,160 Speaker 3: but he would like the opportunity to meet with him, 214 00:11:34,400 --> 00:11:38,480 Speaker 3: connect with him, pray with him. And he thinks there 215 00:11:38,559 --> 00:11:41,360 Speaker 3: is value in letting this man live. And it is 216 00:11:41,400 --> 00:11:46,040 Speaker 3: a powerful, powerful letter that he wrote to authorities trying 217 00:11:46,080 --> 00:11:48,840 Speaker 3: to see if he can have any impact or any 218 00:11:48,920 --> 00:11:52,360 Speaker 3: influence over this execution again that is scheduled on Thursday. 219 00:11:52,400 --> 00:11:55,880 Speaker 3: And just to note, Jeffrey West. We have some quotes 220 00:11:55,880 --> 00:11:58,920 Speaker 3: from him about his level of remorse, not that that 221 00:11:59,000 --> 00:12:02,360 Speaker 3: makes it okay, not that it makes him any less guilty. 222 00:12:02,440 --> 00:12:04,520 Speaker 3: He says, there is not a day that goes by 223 00:12:04,600 --> 00:12:07,040 Speaker 3: that I don't regret it and wish that I could 224 00:12:07,080 --> 00:12:09,400 Speaker 3: take that back. Of course, he's referring to the murder. 225 00:12:10,760 --> 00:12:13,800 Speaker 3: I wish I had the opportunity just to swap places 226 00:12:13,880 --> 00:12:16,320 Speaker 3: and let it be me and not her. 227 00:12:17,040 --> 00:12:21,160 Speaker 2: Can you, I mean, it's hard to It is difficult, 228 00:12:21,280 --> 00:12:24,120 Speaker 2: but people can change see things differently. He's had almost 229 00:12:24,160 --> 00:12:27,200 Speaker 2: thirty years to think about this, and it's difficult to 230 00:12:27,240 --> 00:12:30,760 Speaker 2: have remorse or feel bad for someone who did such 231 00:12:30,760 --> 00:12:32,920 Speaker 2: a horrific crime. But can we be open to the 232 00:12:33,000 --> 00:12:36,440 Speaker 2: possibility that what he did then is who he was 233 00:12:36,960 --> 00:12:39,480 Speaker 2: and what he said now is who he is now. 234 00:12:39,600 --> 00:12:42,520 Speaker 3: I think that's absolutely possibly hard to do. He was 235 00:12:42,559 --> 00:12:45,560 Speaker 3: twenty one. Look, I'm not excusing anything that he did 236 00:12:45,679 --> 00:12:48,079 Speaker 3: at all. It's disgusting, horrific, and he should be behind 237 00:12:48,080 --> 00:12:50,040 Speaker 3: bars for the rest of his life. But he was 238 00:12:50,120 --> 00:12:53,640 Speaker 3: twenty one, and it was interesting for me to think 239 00:12:53,640 --> 00:12:56,320 Speaker 3: about the fact that this young kid, this son, now 240 00:12:56,400 --> 00:12:58,720 Speaker 3: who is standing up for this man who murdered his 241 00:12:58,760 --> 00:13:01,960 Speaker 3: mother was eleven at the time. They're ten years apart, so. 242 00:13:02,800 --> 00:13:03,600 Speaker 2: There could be brothers. 243 00:13:03,960 --> 00:13:08,679 Speaker 3: They yes, right that ten years doesn't mean anything now 244 00:13:08,720 --> 00:13:10,400 Speaker 3: at this point in terms of a difference in how 245 00:13:10,440 --> 00:13:13,240 Speaker 3: they probably view the world. But certainly they've had very 246 00:13:13,240 --> 00:13:19,040 Speaker 3: different experiences, and certainly Barry has suffered greatly because of 247 00:13:19,120 --> 00:13:20,160 Speaker 3: what this man did. 248 00:13:20,240 --> 00:13:22,400 Speaker 2: And Will Berry, we want to let you hear it 249 00:13:22,600 --> 00:13:25,880 Speaker 2: in his words. He wrote an extended op ed a 250 00:13:25,920 --> 00:13:29,520 Speaker 2: little bit back that was put in a local paper there. 251 00:13:29,559 --> 00:13:32,679 Speaker 2: But he explains better than we can where his head is. 252 00:13:32,720 --> 00:13:35,240 Speaker 2: I will start with his first excerp. He says, quote, 253 00:13:35,240 --> 00:13:37,480 Speaker 2: mister West was sentenced to death for killing my mother. 254 00:13:37,880 --> 00:13:40,960 Speaker 2: His execution data set for September twenty fifth, But I 255 00:13:41,040 --> 00:13:43,800 Speaker 2: do not want the state of Alabama to kill him. 256 00:13:43,920 --> 00:13:47,480 Speaker 2: That won't bring back my mother. It will only add 257 00:13:47,640 --> 00:13:50,080 Speaker 2: to the pain I have lived with since the night 258 00:13:50,160 --> 00:13:53,080 Speaker 2: she was shot. I believe there is a better way. 259 00:13:53,800 --> 00:13:57,800 Speaker 2: Like hearing that line, how can you deny his request? 260 00:13:57,960 --> 00:14:00,720 Speaker 2: You haven't even heard that, like, oh, some of the 261 00:14:00,760 --> 00:14:04,360 Speaker 2: heaviest stuff. But that's just it's sincere, and I know 262 00:14:04,520 --> 00:14:06,520 Speaker 2: the law is the law. He wrote to the governor. 263 00:14:06,559 --> 00:14:08,480 Speaker 2: The governor wrote back, said she has to do what 264 00:14:08,520 --> 00:14:11,160 Speaker 2: the law requires her to do. I get it, but 265 00:14:11,240 --> 00:14:13,560 Speaker 2: she does have the options. 266 00:14:13,679 --> 00:14:17,080 Speaker 3: She said that she has stayed one execution, but that 267 00:14:17,160 --> 00:14:19,480 Speaker 3: was because there was some doubt into whether or not 268 00:14:19,640 --> 00:14:21,720 Speaker 3: that person had actually committed the crime, and that is 269 00:14:21,760 --> 00:14:24,280 Speaker 3: the only time she's done it. It doesn't sound like 270 00:14:24,360 --> 00:14:26,560 Speaker 3: she is willing to consider that in this case. 271 00:14:26,640 --> 00:14:32,680 Speaker 2: Should we do we remind me? Please? Don't prosecutors talk 272 00:14:32,760 --> 00:14:35,440 Speaker 2: to families ahead of time, say hey about a plea deal? 273 00:14:36,080 --> 00:14:38,960 Speaker 2: They often talked to them about. Do they also give 274 00:14:39,000 --> 00:14:41,120 Speaker 2: them and say, hey, would you like us to go 275 00:14:41,160 --> 00:14:42,840 Speaker 2: for the death penalty? Would you not do they? 276 00:14:43,360 --> 00:14:45,800 Speaker 3: I don't know. I think they should. But the problem 277 00:14:46,040 --> 00:14:48,920 Speaker 3: was will Berry was eleven years old at the time, 278 00:14:49,000 --> 00:14:51,760 Speaker 3: so they would never take the word or the thoughts 279 00:14:51,840 --> 00:14:53,680 Speaker 3: or sentiments of an eleven year old. They wouldn't put 280 00:14:53,720 --> 00:14:55,360 Speaker 3: that on him. So I think he was just too 281 00:14:55,400 --> 00:14:57,000 Speaker 3: young to weigh in. And I don't know what the 282 00:14:57,040 --> 00:14:59,520 Speaker 3: other family members generally speak. 283 00:14:59,560 --> 00:15:01,640 Speaker 2: I'm trying to think of cases. I'm thinking more so 284 00:15:02,200 --> 00:15:04,000 Speaker 2: law and order or something maybe right now I'm what 285 00:15:04,040 --> 00:15:07,720 Speaker 2: I'm trying to think of cases. Do prosecutors often consult 286 00:15:07,760 --> 00:15:10,560 Speaker 2: with the family and take into account their wishes. 287 00:15:10,680 --> 00:15:13,200 Speaker 3: Wouldn't it be at the discretion of the prosecutor. I 288 00:15:13,200 --> 00:15:15,400 Speaker 3: don't know that there's some hard fast rule. It probably 289 00:15:15,440 --> 00:15:16,520 Speaker 3: is case my case. 290 00:15:16,440 --> 00:15:19,800 Speaker 2: If they some maybe do it, some maybe don't. But yeah, 291 00:15:19,840 --> 00:15:24,200 Speaker 2: that was that's this guy. Your heart hurts for this guy. 292 00:15:24,480 --> 00:15:26,640 Speaker 3: We want to read some more of what he wrote 293 00:15:26,640 --> 00:15:29,480 Speaker 3: in this op ed because this will move you. My 294 00:15:29,560 --> 00:15:32,160 Speaker 3: mother was the person I loved most in the world. 295 00:15:32,280 --> 00:15:35,120 Speaker 3: Her absence and the senseless way she died has cast 296 00:15:35,160 --> 00:15:38,520 Speaker 3: a long shadow over my life. Even so, the weeks 297 00:15:38,520 --> 00:15:41,400 Speaker 3: since I learned that Governor Ivy set an execution date 298 00:15:41,440 --> 00:15:44,600 Speaker 3: for mister West have been some of the most unsettling 299 00:15:44,840 --> 00:15:49,080 Speaker 3: I can recall. My dearest wish is to meet with 300 00:15:49,160 --> 00:15:53,160 Speaker 3: mister West. Yet with only weeks left until his execution date, 301 00:15:53,200 --> 00:15:55,760 Speaker 3: it's not clear who has the power to make that happen, 302 00:15:55,880 --> 00:15:57,400 Speaker 3: or how to ask them directly? 303 00:15:58,560 --> 00:16:03,120 Speaker 2: Is life from eleven years old to now? That chunk 304 00:16:03,200 --> 00:16:06,320 Speaker 2: of his life he needs some resolve too, and he's 305 00:16:06,320 --> 00:16:10,240 Speaker 2: got the clock is ticking. Any answer he needs or anything, 306 00:16:10,240 --> 00:16:12,800 Speaker 2: any piece he wants. The clock is ticking for this guy. 307 00:16:12,960 --> 00:16:15,800 Speaker 3: That is It's yeah, it's a matter of days. And 308 00:16:15,840 --> 00:16:19,400 Speaker 3: here's here's a really really significant part of what he wrote. 309 00:16:19,400 --> 00:16:24,160 Speaker 3: Because we were just talking about how victims are not 310 00:16:24,280 --> 00:16:26,480 Speaker 3: empowered in our legal system, and so he writes, I 311 00:16:26,520 --> 00:16:28,760 Speaker 3: was a child when mister West took my mother's life, 312 00:16:28,800 --> 00:16:31,480 Speaker 3: old enough to understand what had happened, but too young 313 00:16:31,520 --> 00:16:33,760 Speaker 3: to process it. I had no say at the trial. 314 00:16:34,200 --> 00:16:37,080 Speaker 3: I've had no say since then. No one from the 315 00:16:37,080 --> 00:16:39,880 Speaker 3: Alabama Attorney General's office called me in April to say 316 00:16:39,920 --> 00:16:43,000 Speaker 3: they had requested an execution date. No one from the 317 00:16:43,000 --> 00:16:45,800 Speaker 3: governor's office called in July when Governor Ivy said it. 318 00:16:46,200 --> 00:16:50,560 Speaker 3: If my wife hadn't stumbled across an article on Facebook, 319 00:16:51,000 --> 00:16:53,360 Speaker 3: I'm not sure when I would have learned. 320 00:16:53,760 --> 00:16:58,280 Speaker 2: Obviously that's horrible. Okay, obviously that's awful. Obviously that's terrible. 321 00:16:59,560 --> 00:17:02,800 Speaker 2: And I think too many, so many victims have that story, 322 00:17:02,840 --> 00:17:03,120 Speaker 2: don't they. 323 00:17:03,960 --> 00:17:07,080 Speaker 3: Yes, this is a common theme that we need to correct, 324 00:17:07,080 --> 00:17:09,560 Speaker 3: that we can correct in this country. 325 00:17:09,640 --> 00:17:13,119 Speaker 2: So he feels like a victim again, and now the 326 00:17:13,200 --> 00:17:16,560 Speaker 2: thing that can give him peace, He says, the clock 327 00:17:16,640 --> 00:17:19,359 Speaker 2: is ticking for him. I don't have you seen anywhere 328 00:17:19,359 --> 00:17:21,560 Speaker 2: in researching this story. I don't think he has any 329 00:17:21,560 --> 00:17:24,240 Speaker 2: options left. I guess the Supreme Court maybe would be 330 00:17:24,240 --> 00:17:25,240 Speaker 2: the only one with the governor. 331 00:17:25,280 --> 00:17:26,840 Speaker 3: The governor it's the end, you know, they've got the 332 00:17:26,880 --> 00:17:30,160 Speaker 3: phone sitting there, but she's already said, she's already said 333 00:17:30,160 --> 00:17:32,120 Speaker 3: she's not going to So it doesn't look like there's 334 00:17:32,200 --> 00:17:34,919 Speaker 3: much he can do. But just to hear this, this 335 00:17:35,040 --> 00:17:38,080 Speaker 3: man's plea, that this is causing him even more pain, 336 00:17:38,200 --> 00:17:38,720 Speaker 3: is just. 337 00:17:40,200 --> 00:17:44,280 Speaker 2: I don't know, how is there a a who are 338 00:17:44,320 --> 00:17:48,119 Speaker 2: you harming by not executing the guy? Right? So I 339 00:17:48,119 --> 00:17:50,000 Speaker 2: guess the state of Alabama can say, no, he's a 340 00:17:50,040 --> 00:17:51,840 Speaker 2: horrible person. We've decided, and we have laws, and we 341 00:17:51,880 --> 00:17:55,399 Speaker 2: want him dead. But the person impacted most by his 342 00:17:55,600 --> 00:18:00,640 Speaker 2: action who gets whose word should count in this matter? 343 00:18:00,720 --> 00:18:05,400 Speaker 2: And this next excerpt here Robes is the one where 344 00:18:05,400 --> 00:18:08,119 Speaker 2: he really gets into and you give some insight into 345 00:18:08,240 --> 00:18:11,800 Speaker 2: how his faith is informing his belief and his decision 346 00:18:11,840 --> 00:18:13,800 Speaker 2: and his push and his plea to save this man's life. 347 00:18:13,840 --> 00:18:16,919 Speaker 3: Now, I believe in the teachings of Jesus and in 348 00:18:17,000 --> 00:18:19,800 Speaker 3: his words on the Mount, For if you forgive other 349 00:18:19,840 --> 00:18:22,320 Speaker 3: people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will 350 00:18:22,359 --> 00:18:25,040 Speaker 3: also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others 351 00:18:25,119 --> 00:18:28,480 Speaker 3: their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins. My 352 00:18:28,640 --> 00:18:31,959 Speaker 3: faith teaches that every trial we endure brings us closer 353 00:18:31,960 --> 00:18:35,439 Speaker 3: to salvation. It teaches submission to God's will. 354 00:18:36,080 --> 00:18:38,679 Speaker 2: This next line here, he said that he believes that 355 00:18:38,960 --> 00:18:42,480 Speaker 2: in seeking his execution, the state of Alabama is playing God. 356 00:18:43,359 --> 00:18:44,280 Speaker 2: What do we do with that? 357 00:18:44,480 --> 00:18:44,640 Speaker 4: Oh? 358 00:18:44,760 --> 00:18:49,479 Speaker 2: This is now a a what it's become now a 359 00:18:49,520 --> 00:18:52,359 Speaker 2: death penalty debate to a certain degree, and a lot 360 00:18:52,359 --> 00:18:56,120 Speaker 2: of people have an issue with that. I don't want 361 00:18:56,160 --> 00:18:58,760 Speaker 2: anyone to exactly revenge in my name, he says, nor 362 00:18:58,800 --> 00:19:00,920 Speaker 2: in my mother. I believe life without the possibility of 363 00:19:00,920 --> 00:19:04,440 Speaker 2: parole is just punishment. There is an ending to this 364 00:19:04,560 --> 00:19:07,800 Speaker 2: story where mister West and I find comfort in each 365 00:19:07,880 --> 00:19:10,520 Speaker 2: other and in the healing power of forgiveness. What the 366 00:19:10,720 --> 00:19:11,879 Speaker 2: actual wow. 367 00:19:11,960 --> 00:19:14,480 Speaker 3: That brings tears to my eyes? Because then he goes 368 00:19:14,520 --> 00:19:17,199 Speaker 3: further and says, I want to tell mister West that 369 00:19:17,440 --> 00:19:21,720 Speaker 3: I forgive him, and I want to ask questions both 370 00:19:21,720 --> 00:19:24,959 Speaker 3: about what happened that night and about who he is 371 00:19:25,200 --> 00:19:28,439 Speaker 3: as a man. In some ways, I suppose I just 372 00:19:28,680 --> 00:19:31,520 Speaker 3: want to be in a room with him. Through his 373 00:19:31,640 --> 00:19:35,400 Speaker 3: legal team, mister West has agreed to my request, even 374 00:19:35,440 --> 00:19:37,439 Speaker 3: in what may be the last weeks of his life. 375 00:19:37,760 --> 00:19:40,040 Speaker 3: He is willing to spend time with me and reckon 376 00:19:40,119 --> 00:19:43,040 Speaker 3: with the harm he has caused. I believe that speaks 377 00:19:43,080 --> 00:19:45,439 Speaker 3: well of him. Despite the deadly mistake he made the 378 00:19:45,560 --> 00:19:49,080 Speaker 3: night he killed my mother. I know that she forgives 379 00:19:49,160 --> 00:19:52,240 Speaker 3: him and that she would want me to sit down 380 00:19:52,280 --> 00:19:54,280 Speaker 3: with him. Oh that makes me like cry, how are 381 00:19:54,280 --> 00:19:54,560 Speaker 3: you going. 382 00:19:54,480 --> 00:19:57,080 Speaker 2: To deny that guy's request. I know it's a legal process, 383 00:19:57,119 --> 00:20:01,800 Speaker 2: but my good, sweet lord, the part there he sounded 384 00:20:01,840 --> 00:20:03,359 Speaker 2: like a guy that if you were in front of him, 385 00:20:03,600 --> 00:20:06,399 Speaker 2: it sounds like almost he said, I don't know, just please, 386 00:20:06,440 --> 00:20:07,640 Speaker 2: I just want to get in a room with him, 387 00:20:08,040 --> 00:20:09,520 Speaker 2: Like he doesn't have it all figured out. 388 00:20:09,520 --> 00:20:13,000 Speaker 3: I just need this just it's closure for him, and 389 00:20:13,760 --> 00:20:16,879 Speaker 3: it's a connection to his mother. He was the last 390 00:20:16,920 --> 00:20:18,960 Speaker 3: person to see his mother alive, but he was. 391 00:20:18,920 --> 00:20:21,960 Speaker 2: Also the one who caused her to have that last 392 00:20:21,960 --> 00:20:25,440 Speaker 2: moment of life. Whoo, this one is man. 393 00:20:25,600 --> 00:20:28,400 Speaker 3: Wow. And then he goes on to say, and this 394 00:20:28,480 --> 00:20:31,280 Speaker 3: is what we've been speaking to. The criminal justice system 395 00:20:31,440 --> 00:20:35,120 Speaker 3: is not built with victims needs, wishes and well being 396 00:20:35,160 --> 00:20:38,200 Speaker 3: in mind. I know that as well as anybody, because 397 00:20:38,200 --> 00:20:41,280 Speaker 3: what is being done in my name is not what 398 00:20:41,480 --> 00:20:44,399 Speaker 3: I need or want. I know the clemency is a 399 00:20:44,400 --> 00:20:46,800 Speaker 3: lot to ask for, but having spoken with a restorative 400 00:20:46,960 --> 00:20:50,439 Speaker 3: justice specialist who is also in communication with mister West, 401 00:20:51,200 --> 00:20:54,000 Speaker 3: I feel hopeful there could be a future where he 402 00:20:54,119 --> 00:20:59,919 Speaker 3: and I might sit down together, where we might pray together. 403 00:21:00,040 --> 00:21:02,040 Speaker 2: Who is this guy? 404 00:21:01,640 --> 00:21:03,640 Speaker 3: Is an amazing human being? 405 00:21:06,840 --> 00:21:09,399 Speaker 2: You take the last one here, I'm crying out for 406 00:21:09,480 --> 00:21:09,840 Speaker 2: the moment. 407 00:21:11,400 --> 00:21:19,199 Speaker 4: This, this last one is is a powerful way to 408 00:21:19,280 --> 00:21:22,560 Speaker 4: close this and to give us all something to think about. 409 00:21:22,840 --> 00:21:24,800 Speaker 3: Someone we may need to forgive in our lives, even 410 00:21:24,800 --> 00:21:27,639 Speaker 3: if it's ourselves. But this is just beautiful. He says 411 00:21:27,720 --> 00:21:30,280 Speaker 3: time is working against us. Time is working against all 412 00:21:30,280 --> 00:21:30,520 Speaker 3: of us. 413 00:21:30,520 --> 00:21:33,840 Speaker 2: So I know that was the first point I was making. Yes, 414 00:21:33,920 --> 00:21:37,159 Speaker 2: he his first line there applies to everybody. 415 00:21:37,240 --> 00:21:40,520 Speaker 3: Time is working against us. Whether or not she can 416 00:21:40,600 --> 00:21:43,840 Speaker 3: see her way to granting clemency, at the very least, 417 00:21:44,000 --> 00:21:47,480 Speaker 3: I hope Governor Ivy will grant a reprieve, which she 418 00:21:47,680 --> 00:21:51,880 Speaker 3: has the authority to do. That time would allow mister West, 419 00:21:52,200 --> 00:21:57,920 Speaker 3: his family, and mine to engage in vital healing conversations. 420 00:21:58,440 --> 00:22:00,560 Speaker 3: I need time to heal all. 421 00:22:01,960 --> 00:22:06,080 Speaker 2: I have never ever, ever, ever gotten involved politically and 422 00:22:06,600 --> 00:22:08,840 Speaker 2: advocating for somebody to get the death pill on me 423 00:22:08,920 --> 00:22:13,600 Speaker 2: or not. But he is not even asking to spare 424 00:22:13,680 --> 00:22:18,480 Speaker 2: his life moving forward. Just give me a beat, she is. 425 00:22:18,680 --> 00:22:21,280 Speaker 2: He's actually saying a reprieve. Just give me a reprieve 426 00:22:21,359 --> 00:22:23,159 Speaker 2: so we can have some time to do what I 427 00:22:23,240 --> 00:22:26,359 Speaker 2: need to do. How can you deny that? And not 428 00:22:26,400 --> 00:22:28,720 Speaker 2: a human level, bro, not a legal level, not a 429 00:22:28,760 --> 00:22:31,119 Speaker 2: state of alabima. Is on a human level. 430 00:22:31,800 --> 00:22:36,320 Speaker 3: It's heartbreaking because because he wants he's not allowed to 431 00:22:36,320 --> 00:22:39,199 Speaker 3: meet this man. He's not allowed to talk to this man. 432 00:22:39,480 --> 00:22:41,840 Speaker 3: And that's all he's asking for is time to do so. 433 00:22:41,880 --> 00:22:44,560 Speaker 2: You can put them behind glass. We can guarantee safety. 434 00:22:44,800 --> 00:22:46,879 Speaker 3: We can do that, absolutely, they can. 435 00:22:47,119 --> 00:22:47,600 Speaker 4: We can do that. 436 00:22:48,119 --> 00:22:49,160 Speaker 1: I just that part. 437 00:22:49,320 --> 00:22:51,879 Speaker 2: Just I need a minute, give me a reprieve, just 438 00:22:52,000 --> 00:22:55,320 Speaker 2: delay to let this happen. We don't know what's going 439 00:22:55,400 --> 00:23:00,159 Speaker 2: to happen. We're not obviously laws, government, governor. These are 440 00:23:00,160 --> 00:23:03,680 Speaker 2: all tough decisions and we get it. But this, if 441 00:23:03,720 --> 00:23:06,119 Speaker 2: ever an exception to be made, I don't know. If 442 00:23:06,119 --> 00:23:09,919 Speaker 2: there's some I don't know what the damage is ropes 443 00:23:10,400 --> 00:23:13,240 Speaker 2: in setting a precedent or something, I don't know, But 444 00:23:13,320 --> 00:23:16,160 Speaker 2: what is the damage in giving an eleven year old kid, 445 00:23:16,200 --> 00:23:19,439 Speaker 2: which is what he is, which is what he's stuck 446 00:23:19,480 --> 00:23:22,679 Speaker 2: at as far as his relationship with his mom, giving 447 00:23:22,800 --> 00:23:25,800 Speaker 2: that kid a moment he's not had. 448 00:23:26,200 --> 00:23:30,200 Speaker 3: Unfortunately, we know how these things typically turn out. We will, 449 00:23:30,240 --> 00:23:33,879 Speaker 3: of course stay on top of it. But yes, right now, 450 00:23:35,040 --> 00:23:40,400 Speaker 3: Jeffrey West's execution is set for this Thursday. We will 451 00:23:40,440 --> 00:23:43,240 Speaker 3: keep you updated, but we hope at the very least 452 00:23:43,359 --> 00:23:47,439 Speaker 3: this moves some of you. All of you, I know 453 00:23:47,480 --> 00:23:52,800 Speaker 3: it has certainly us to have that forgiving spirit in 454 00:23:52,800 --> 00:23:55,760 Speaker 3: our hearts because you are set free from that anger 455 00:23:56,280 --> 00:23:59,080 Speaker 3: and that resentment. And this is just a beautiful example 456 00:23:59,440 --> 00:24:03,760 Speaker 3: in a world where we don't have many moments like these. 457 00:24:03,800 --> 00:24:08,000 Speaker 3: But also, yes, very reminiscent of Erica Kirk this past week. 458 00:24:08,080 --> 00:24:10,199 Speaker 3: So with that, everyone, thank you for listening to us. 459 00:24:10,200 --> 00:24:14,480 Speaker 3: I'm Ami Roebach alongside TJ. Holmes. We'll talk to you 460 00:24:14,520 --> 00:24:15,000 Speaker 3: really soon.