On the morning of June 28, 2007, we awoke to learn that a man had died in Tennessee overnight. And, unlike our normal reactions when we learn of any death, we rejoiced.
The man’s name was Sedley Alley. He died by lethal injection at the Riverbend Maximum Security in west Nashville for the 1985 murder of 19-year-old U.S. Marine Lance Corporal Suzanne Marie Collins. Before he took his leave, Alley had been on death row longer than Suzanne was alive on earth.
Now, with last week’s four-to-three decision by the Supreme Court of the State of Connecticut, two men will be spared a final resolution similar to Mr. Alley’s. And, unlike our normal reactions when we learn of any life saved, we grieved.