USA - Alabama. A jury recommended the death sentence for Esau Jackson, 32, black

A Jefferson County jury recommended 10-2 the death sentence for Esau Jackson, 32, black. The recommendation is not binding on Circuit Judge Stephen Wallace, who will set the official punishment after a presentence investigation. Jackson killed Pamela Montgomery, 42, and Milton Poole III, 16, the evening of Feb. 1, 2006 while they were stopped in a car at the intersection of 19th Street and Avenue V. Also in the car were Shaniece Montgomery, then 17; and Denaris Montgomery, then 17; who were wounded. Jackson maintained his innocence during the week-long trial. Jackson also was convicted and sentenced to death in this case in 2007 (see March 16, 2007), but the Alabama Supreme Court on September 24, 2010 (see) awarded a new trial due to improper testimony. The jury in 2007 recommended life without parole in a 10-2 vote, but then-Circuit Judge Gloria Bahakel overrode them and imposed death.