TALLADEGA — Wakilii Brown was sentenced to death by lethal injection Monday morning by Circuit Judge Bo Hollingsworth.Brown, 32, was convicted by a jury in late February on three counts of murder for the deaths of his girlfriend, Cherae Jemison, 26, and her mother, Dotty Jemison, 49.
Brown maintained his innocence, telling both Hollingsworth and family members of the victims, “I’m not guilty. I didn’t do it,” before he was sentenced.
After the sentencing hearing, Talladega County District Attorney Steve Giddens said, “I’m obviously pleased with the decision. I know a couple of the victims’ family felt differently about the death penalty, but I have a duty to serve the people of this county, and I feel a death sentence is appropriate.”
Two of the three family members of the victims who addressed Hollingsworth asked that Brown be sentenced to life without parole. The jury that convicted Brown voted 10-2 in favor of recommending the death penalty for Brown. Hollingsworth did not have to make his sentence based on the jury’s recommendation, though.
Brown’s attorneys, Jeb Fannin and Bill Willingham, said they planned to go ahead with an appeal of the decision. A date for the appeal has not been set.
Giddens said his office will now hand the case off to the state Attorney General’s Office for the appeal unless Brown files any post-trial motions. Hollingsworth said the state Supreme Court is responsible for setting an execution date for Brown and ordered Brown be turned over to the Alabama Department of Corrections.
Brown was convicted of beating to death Cherae Jemison, the mother of his children, and Dotty Jemison at the home they all shared in Sylacauga on March 9 or 10, 2001. Brown was 25 at the time.
Medical evidence presented at the trial indicated both women were struck multiple times in the head with what appeared to be a hammer. The weapon was never recovered.
Brown was later arrested by police in Cleveland, Ohio, after a 25-hour standoff inside an apartment building.
He was convicted on two counts of murder during a robbery and one count of killing two or more people during the same scheme or course of conduct.
Home staff writer Chris Norwood contributed to this story.
