Birmingham, AL – An Alabama inmate is standing by his confession in a 1982 murder that resulted in the death penalty for Tommy Arthur, who has been convicted three separate times in the killing.
Bobby Ray Gilbert testified Tuesday during a hearing in Birmingham that he was telling the truth when he signed a written confession last year. Arthur's lawyers obtained the statement from Gilbert as they tried to get their client off death row.
But Gilbert repeatedly refused to answer questions about details of the murder of Troy Wicker of Muscle Shoals. He cited his right against self-incrimination each time.
Courts have convicted Arthur of murdering Wicker three times, but two of those cases were thrown out on appeal. He is now trying to get his latest conviction overturned.
(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)