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Donice Scott was a high school jock who gloried in his status, but never lived up to expectations. Those who have contacted us, both before and after last Friday's tragedy, have called him a bully, a lie-about, an alcoholic, and a womanizer. Three years before his death, he sought out the son he fathered and deserted three decades before. Scott needed a home after having been dumped by his latest wife, and Brian Martin was kind enough to provide it.
Martin was reportedly a rental property owner and UPS driver who carried a firearm for protection. He used it the night of May 11, 2011, when he shot Scott dead. Donice Scott, a man who towered over even the six-foot Martin and bragged he had once fought a bear, had removed a sword from his wall. He then allegedly brandished it at Martin who was trying to evict his non-paying tenant. When neighbors arrived after hearing the shots, they found Martin giving Scott CPR. This is not usually indicative of someone wishing to take a person's life.
At the behest of Colbert County District Attorney Bryce Graham, a grand jury indicted Martin for Felony Murder. Those who heard the evidence called it sketchy. When a jury remained in deliberations for what Graham thought was an excessive period of time, he offered Martin a plea deal - Ten years on the Class B felony of manslaughter.
Martin took the deal and served 40 months of his 120 month sentence, receiving 80 months of Correctional Incentive Time for good behavior. This has been an Alabama policy since 1980.
In other words, Brian Martin received no parole and by law completed every day of his manslaughter sentence. Until last Friday, he had apparently had no arrests and was living a productive life since his release in 2016. What made Brian snap is unknown and a situation too horrible for words. Our sympathies in this crime are certainly with the victims' families and not Mr. Martin; however, no one should be bandying about the words "murdered his dad."
No, the world doesn't need more guns; it needs more men who are willing to step up and be real fathers to their children. Not men like Donice Scott.
Thank you for the factual information and not adding fuel to the fire of sensationalism that is surrounding this act of horror. It says something about our society today that actual fact based accounts of what happened in the trial and the circumstances surrounding the first murder came from a blog. The television and newspaper media are too busy loading up on reactionary headlines. The bandwagon is too full with this already and somehow what should be respectful display honoring a public servant dying in the line of duty has became a circus show complete with clowns in sad face, and peddlers hawking merchandise. He deserved better than the spectacle being played out all over the Shoals
ReplyDeleteBy all accounts coming from the ADOC, Martin WAS NOT a 'model prisoner'.
ReplyDeleteLet's not forget that manslaughter is a Class B felony and Brian Martin was carrying a handgun when he killed two more people and attempted to kill others. Brian Martin admittedly killed his father and his agreement was a conviction that didn't involve premeditation. I want to know the definition of "good behavior." If the Alabama AG is telling the truth then the state was lenient in marking his debt "paid in full." Most people don't even think about how the legal system hands out credits to discount the debt. I'm not against mercy when it is justifiable. As to Donice Scott, he's dead and nobody other than Brian Martin knows what actually happened when Donice Scott was shot. It no longer matters whether Donice Scott was a dirt bag or a model citizen in relation to Brian Martin's situation. I think the people want a review of how credit is handed out so we can say we have done everything we can to make sure the streets are safe from convicted felons, especially from felons who choose to continue to break the law after having their debt marked as paid.
ReplyDelete