John Champion of Hazel Green gave a silent sign of victory Monday, balling his hands into fists, when he knew one of three people accused in the brutal beating death of his father would spend life in prison with no chance of parole.
John, who is hearing impaired, received confirmation of Derrick Green’s sentencing through a sign language interpreter just after 3 p.m. in Limestone County Circuit Court. John’s father, 74-year-old Art Champion of Ardmore, was beaten to death in his home with a hickory stick Nov. 10, 2006.
John found his father’s body the next day, lying in a pool of blood on the bedroom floor.
He reported the murder by taking a note to Ardmore Police.
Limestone County Sheriff’s investigators handled the case.
“I think he deserves the punishment of life without parole,” John said through the interpreter. “I’m happy with the verdict. It’s been a lot of worry and a lot of paranoia that he might be able to get out some day so this is a lot of relief.”
Accused in the crime were Green, his wife Jeannie Green, also of Ardmore, and Randall “Bingo” Clem of Ardmore, Tenn.
Derrick Green entered a guilty plea to capital murder Friday and attorneys agreed on the life-without-parole sentence but, following Alabama law, a brief validation trial was held Monday. A jury was selected to determine if the evidence was adequate for Limestone County Circuit Court Judge Jimmy Woodroof to accept the plea and pronounce sentence.
Trials for Jeannie Green and Clem will follow.
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Green sentenced to life without parole
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