COLBERT COUNTY, Ala. (TCN) — A 46-year-old man has been sentenced to death in connection with the fatal 2021 of a police sergeant after a jury unanimously voted to recommend the death penalty.
According to WAFF, Brian Martin allegedly shot and killed his friend William Mealback Jr. on Oct. 1, 2021. He then allegedly threw his body out of a car. Sheffield Police Sargeant Nick Risner, 40, responded to the scene, and Martin fatally shot him.
Yahoo! News reports Martin was found guilty in September of three counts each of capital murder, attempted murder, and shooting into an occupied vehicle, and one count of certain persons forbidden to possess a firearm.
He was sentenced to death on Oct. 26, per Yahoo! News. According to the outlet, he testified for two days during the trial but reportedly chose not to apologize to Risner’s family. When he addressed the court, he claimed he had been “gang-stalked” for two years prior to the day he shot Risner.
The defense called a forensic neuropsychologist, who testified that although Martin did experience paranoia and delusions, he was not legally insane at the time of the fatal shooting, according to Rocket City Now. The prosecution said Martin was a drug user who took advantage of mental health resources, per WHNT.
Of the decision, Rocket City Now reports that Martin’s defense team said, “Martin is happy about the decision. He was afraid of life in prison and he wanted death and that is what he got.”
Risner’s obituary describes him as “a people person with a servant’s heart always helping others in any way. His infectious laugh and personality could light up a room.”
According to Rocket City Now, Martin is scheduled to appear in court for a pretrial hearing regarding Mealback’s death on Jan. 27, 2027. The trial is scheduled to begin on Feb. 1, 2027.
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