Man gets life for killing son's mother

The Associated Press

A man who shot the mother of their son nine times in front of the 7-year-old has been sentenced to life without parole.

Jefferson County Circuit Judge Tommy Nail said he could not go along with a prosecutor's call for the death penalty for 30-year-old Arthur Lee Kirksey. Instead, the judge Friday upheld the 11-1 sentencing recommendation by the jury that convicted Kirksey in May.

Kirksey chased down and killed Winifred Bryant, the 2000 valedictorian at Woodlawn High School, on Jan. 2, 2008.

Testimony in the trial showed Bryant and Kirksey dated eight years, had a child and had bought a house together when Bryant decided to end the relationship. Kirksey testified he followed her to her sister's apartment, hoping to reconcile, but they ended up arguing.

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Information from: The Birmingham News, http://www.al.com/birminghamnews">http://www.al.com/birminghamnews