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FORT WORTH, Tx (AP) — The parents of a North Texas man shot to death during a robbery in 2006 believe the execution of their son’s killer set for next month should be called off and the man convicted in the killing should be locked up for life without parole.
Glenn and Judy Cherry, whose son, Jonas, was killed in the robbery of an amusement center outside Fort Worth, have written state and Tarrant County officials advocating condemned inmate Paul Storey be spared from lethal injection April 12, according to the Fort Worth Star-Telegram (http://bit.ly/2nOiKDT ).
In an affidavit, Cherry’s parents said Storey’s execution won’t bring back their son or atone for his loss.
“We are satisfied that Paul Storey remaining in prison until his death will assure that he cannot murder another innocent person in the community, and with this outcome we are satisfied and convinced that lawful retribution is exercised concerning the death of our son,” they wrote.
Jonas Cherry, 28, was an assistant manager at a Putt-Putt mini-golf center in Hurst, just northeast of Fort Worth. Evidence showed $150 was taken in the October 2006 robbery. Evidence also showed Storey previously worked there.
At a court hearing Monday in Fort Worth, Storey’s attorneys said they would file a clemency petition for him this week with the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles. The board, with only a few exceptions, has historically rejected clemency requests from death row inmates.
An accomplice of Storey’s, Mark Porter, pleaded guilty for his participation in the slaying and accepted a life sentence without parole.
The sentiment from Cherry’s parents is not unprecedented.
In 2004, convicted killer Dominque Green was executed in Texas despite calls from relatives of his victim and others opposed to capital punishment that he should live.
Storey’s mother, Marilyn Shankle-Grant, said she was extremely grateful for the support from Cherry’s parents.
“They must have the heart of Jesus Christ himself to want to have anything to do with the life of someone who was involved in taking their own son’s life,” she said.
