An Alabama man convicted of killing the mother of his child received life in prison despite his attempts to get the death penalty.
Arkeem Tiyon Marshall, 33, shot and killed TaMira Pullom, 28, in 2023. WBRC reported that Marshall hoped he'd get the death penalty and took steps to get the punishment.
Marshall prevented his attorneys Paul McDaniel and Deidra Mayes from putting on any witnesses or experts to testify as to why his life should be spared, the station reported.
McDaniel told the court that Marshall's actions "amounts to suicide."
AL.com reported that the deadly shooting happened in the presence of the couple's 17-month-old son, Trent. "Mr. Marshall wants the death penalty, and I'm not going to stand up there and say he wants the death penalty," the website quoted McDaniel.
Despite Marshall's efforts, the jury recommended a sentence of life in prison.
During the sentencing phase, Marshall did take the stand to apologize to the victim's family, but requested the apology take place outside of the presence of the jury, AL.com reported.
"I want to say I'm sorry. She did not deserve it," Marshall said, according to AL.com. "She deserved to be here with her child. She deserved to spend her life with her son."
"He deserved a life with his mom," he said. "That's something I shouldn't have took from him."
