Motion To Block Death Penalty In Police Killing

GEORGETOWN, Del. (AP) -- Attorneys for a Maryland man convicted of murder in the 2009 shooting of a Georgetown police officer have filed a motion to block the death penalty for their client.

A Sussex County jury in February recommended by a 7-to-5 vote that Derrick Powell of Cumberland, Md., be executed for the 2009 shooting of patrolman Chad Spicer.

Powell's attorneys filed the motion Tuesday to block the death penalty, citing the jury's divided recommendation and the fact he was convicted on one of two counts of first-degree murder.

Judge T. Henley Graves scheduled a sentencing for May 20.

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