USA - Alabama. Judge Brian Howell overrode a jury's recommendation and sentenced Joshua Russell to death.

Calhoun County circuit judge Brian Howell sentenced Joshua Russell to death. Russell, 26, Black, shot police officer Justin Sollohub, 27, White, in the head from close range on August 24, 2011. A Lee County jury convicted Russell of capital murder in September. On Sept. 18 jurors voted 8-4 to recommend life in prison without parole. Judge Howell disagreed with the jury's recommendation following a hearing today. The case was moved to Lee County due to pretrial publicity and in an effort to find a jury that had not heard much about the murder.