Nationwide anti-racism protests have sparked renewed outcry over the 55-year prison sentence an Alabama teen received after he was convicted under the state’s accomplice liability law in the death of his friend, who was fatally shot by a police officer in 2015.
During a two-day trial in 2018, a jury convicted Smith of two counts of theft, burglary and felony murder under Alabama’s accomplice liability law.
Alabama Department of Corrections
Lakeith Smith was convicted under Alabama's accomplice liability law in the death of A’Donte Washington, who was fatally shot by a police officer in 2015.
“Despite Lakeith not participating in the shoot-out at all, under Alabama’s accomplice liability law, SMITH WAS FOUND LIABLE FOR THE DEATH OF HIS FRIEND,” YouTube star Nash Grier tweeted Saturday.
In March, Alabama executed Nathaniel Woods, a Black man who was convicted under the accomplice law in the 2004 killings of three police officers who were shot to death by another man.
