FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
NEWS RELEASE
July 3, 2018
For More Information, contact:
Mike Lewis (334) 353-2199
Steve Marshall
Joy Patterson (334) 242-7491
Page 1 of 1
Alabama Attorney General
AG STEVE MARSHALL ANNOUNCES COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS DENIES
APPEAL OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY CAPITAL MURDER CONVICTION
(MONTGOMERY)–Attorney General Steve Marshall announced the Alabama
Court of Criminal Appeals upheld the denial of a Rule 32 petition for further judicial
review of the capital murder conviction and life-without-parole sentence of Nicolas
Lewis Harris. Harris, 26, of Bessemer, was convicted in Montgomery County Circuit
Court in 2015 for the capital murder of Darrell Howard Jr.
Evidence presented at trial showed that Howard was driving a car that was
involved in a minor automobile accident with another car in which Harris was a
passenger. Harris and the driver, Joshua Sanders, got out of their vehicle, each armed
with a pistol, and confronted Howard, who tried to drive his car away. Harris and
Sanders both fired their guns into Howard’s car, killing him.
Montgomery County District Attorney Daryl Bailey’s office prosecuted the case.
Harris was convicted of capital murder, and sentenced to life imprisonment without the
possibility of parole. Harris’ subsequent attempts to have his conviction and sentence
reversed on appeal have been rejected by the courts. The Attorney General’s Criminal
Appeals Division handled Harris’ case during the appeals process, including Harris’
present petition to overturn his conviction and sentence. The Alabama Court of
Criminal Appeals denied that request in a decision issued Friday, June 29.
Sanders was also convicted of capital murder for killing Howard and sentenced
to life imprisonment.
Attorney General Marshall commended Assistant Attorney General Tracy Daniel
of the Attorney General’s Criminal Appeals Division for her successful work in this
case.
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501 Washington Avenue * Montgomery, AL 36104 * (334) 242-7300
www.ago.state.al.us
