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Majors' grandfather reacted to the suspension with disapproval. He called the punishment a "slap on the wrist" and argued they should not have a job. As both officers were white, he claimed they would have responded differently had Majors also been white. Casey said both officers had assured him that their laxness was not due to [[Racial profiling|racial bias]]. |
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Majors' grandfather reacted to the suspension with disapproval. He called the punishment a "slap on the wrist" and argued they should not have a job. As both officers were white, he claimed they would have responded differently had Majors also been white. Casey said both officers had assured him that their laxness was not due to [[Racial profiling|racial bias]]. |
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On April 25, 1988, Majors' parents filed a $2 million civil damage suit against the Metro government. They asked for $1 million in compensatory damages and another $1 million in punitive damages.[{{cite news|last=Loggins|first=Kirk|title=Teen found guilty of killing youth|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/96909301/teen-found-guilty-of-killing-youth/|newspaper=[[The Tennessean]]|date=June 23, 1988|pages=[https://www.newspapers.com/clip/96909301/teen-found-guilty-of-killing-youth/ 1], [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/96909337/teen-guilty-of-murder-kidnapping/ 6]|via=[[Newspapers.com]]|access-date=August 7, 2022}}] However, according to Richard Jackson, the Majors' family attorney, an autopsy report prepared by the Metro medical examiner showed that Majors had died sometime after his mother had called the police for help.[{{cite news|last=Loggins|first=Kirk|title=Teens face murder charges as adults|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/96911525/teens-face-murder-charges-as-adults/|newspaper=[[The Tennessean]]|date=July 8, 1987|page=9|via=[[Newspapers.com]]|access-date=August 7, 2022}}] |
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On April 25, 1988, Majors' parents filed a $2 million civil damage suit against the Metro government. They asked for $1 million in compensatory damages and another $1 million in [[punitive damages]].[{{cite news|last=Loggins|first=Kirk|title=Teen found guilty of killing youth|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/96909301/teen-found-guilty-of-killing-youth/|newspaper=[[The Tennessean]]|date=June 23, 1988|pages=[https://www.newspapers.com/clip/96909301/teen-found-guilty-of-killing-youth/ 1], [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/96909337/teen-guilty-of-murder-kidnapping/ 6]|via=[[Newspapers.com]]|access-date=August 7, 2022}}] However, according to Richard Jackson, the Majors' family attorney, an autopsy report prepared by the Metro medical examiner showed that Majors had died sometime after his mother had called the police for help.[{{cite news|last=Loggins|first=Kirk|title=Teens face murder charges as adults|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/96911525/teens-face-murder-charges-as-adults/|newspaper=[[The Tennessean]]|date=July 8, 1987|page=9|via=[[Newspapers.com]]|access-date=August 7, 2022}}] |
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==Trials== |
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==Trials== |
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On October 11, Deborah Majors, for the third time, told a jury about her son's murder, having done so at Brewington's trial and at Middlebrooks' first trial.[{{cite news|last=Loggins|first=Kirk|title=Mother tells third jury of son's murder|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/96911715/mother-tells-third-jury-of-sons-murder/|newspaper=[[The Tennessean]]|date=October 12, 1995|pages=[https://www.newspapers.com/clip/96911715/mother-tells-third-jury-of-sons-murder/ 1], [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/96911743/in-court-mother-relives-sons-slaying/ 2]|via=[[Newspapers.com]]|access-date=August 7, 2022}}] On October 13, 1995, Donald Middlebrooks was resentenced to death. This time he showed no emotion after the announcement.[{{cite news|last=Loggins|first=Kirk|title=Middlebrooks, again, sentenced to death|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/106655198/middlebrooks-again-sentenced-to-death/|newspaper=[[The Tennessean]]|date=October 14, 1995|pages=[https://www.newspapers.com/clip/106655198/middlebrooks-again-sentenced-to-death/ 1], [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/106655210/middlebrooks-again-sentenced-to-death/ 2]|via=[[Newspapers.com]]|access-date=August 7, 2022}}] In January 1998, the court upheld his death sentence. The appeals court noted that race "was an integral dynamic of the circumstances surrounding this murder."[{{cite news|last=Loggins|first=Kirk|title=Court upholds death sentence in torture slaying|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/96912649/court-upholds-death-sentence-in-torture/|newspaper=[[The Tennessean]]|date=January 16, 1998|page=11|via=[[Newspapers.com]]|access-date=August 7, 2022}}] |
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On October 11, Deborah Majors, for the third time, told a jury about her son's murder, having done so at Brewington's trial and at Middlebrooks' first trial.[{{cite news|last=Loggins|first=Kirk|title=Mother tells third jury of son's murder|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/96911715/mother-tells-third-jury-of-sons-murder/|newspaper=[[The Tennessean]]|date=October 12, 1995|pages=[https://www.newspapers.com/clip/96911715/mother-tells-third-jury-of-sons-murder/ 1], [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/96911743/in-court-mother-relives-sons-slaying/ 2]|via=[[Newspapers.com]]|access-date=August 7, 2022}}] On October 13, 1995, Donald Middlebrooks was resentenced to death. This time he showed no emotion after the announcement.[{{cite news|last=Loggins|first=Kirk|title=Middlebrooks, again, sentenced to death|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/106655198/middlebrooks-again-sentenced-to-death/|newspaper=[[The Tennessean]]|date=October 14, 1995|pages=[https://www.newspapers.com/clip/106655198/middlebrooks-again-sentenced-to-death/ 1], [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/106655210/middlebrooks-again-sentenced-to-death/ 2]|via=[[Newspapers.com]]|access-date=August 7, 2022}}] In January 1998, the court upheld his death sentence. The appeals court noted that race "was an integral dynamic of the circumstances surrounding this murder."[{{cite news|last=Loggins|first=Kirk|title=Court upholds death sentence in torture slaying|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/96912649/court-upholds-death-sentence-in-torture/|newspaper=[[The Tennessean]]|date=January 16, 1998|page=11|via=[[Newspapers.com]]|access-date=August 7, 2022}}] |
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In September 1998, a lawyer told the Tennessee Supreme Court that prosecutors had "played the race card" to convince a Davidson County jury to sentence Middlebrooks to death.[{{cite news|last=Loggins|first=Kirk|title='Race card' blamed for death sentence|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/96910200/race-card-blamed-for-death-sentence/|newspaper=[[The Tennessean]]|date=October 7, 1998|page=24|via=[[Newspapers.com]]|access-date=August 7, 2022}}] In July 1999, the Tennessee Supreme Court affirmed Middlebrooks' death sentence and said the prosecution was justified in presenting evidence that race was a factor in the murder of Majors. They ruled that racial prejudice was relevant to show premeditation and a motive for the killing.[{{cite news|last=Loggins|first=Kirk|title=Death sentence survives state Supreme Court appeal|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/96909510/death-sentence-survives-state-supreme/|newspaper=[[The Tennessean]]|date=July 7, 1999|page=16|via=[[Newspapers.com]]|access-date=August 7, 2022}}][{{cite web|title=Supreme Court Upholds Middlebrooks Death Sentence|work=tncourts.gov|url=https://www.tncourts.gov/press/1999/07/06/supreme-court-upholds-middlebrooks-death-sentence|date=July 6, 1999|access-date=August 7, 2022}}] |
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In September 1998, a lawyer told the Tennessee Supreme Court that prosecutors had "played the [[race card]]" to convince a Davidson County jury to sentence Middlebrooks to death.[{{cite news|last=Loggins|first=Kirk|title='Race card' blamed for death sentence|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/96910200/race-card-blamed-for-death-sentence/|newspaper=[[The Tennessean]]|date=October 7, 1998|page=24|via=[[Newspapers.com]]|access-date=August 7, 2022}}] In July 1999, the Tennessee Supreme Court affirmed Middlebrooks' death sentence and said the prosecution was justified in presenting evidence that race was a factor in the murder of Majors. They ruled that racial prejudice was relevant to show premeditation and a motive for the killing.[{{cite news|last=Loggins|first=Kirk|title=Death sentence survives state Supreme Court appeal|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/96909510/death-sentence-survives-state-supreme/|newspaper=[[The Tennessean]]|date=July 7, 1999|page=16|via=[[Newspapers.com]]|access-date=August 7, 2022}}][{{cite web|title=Supreme Court Upholds Middlebrooks Death Sentence|work=tncourts.gov|url=https://www.tncourts.gov/press/1999/07/06/supreme-court-upholds-middlebrooks-death-sentence|date=July 6, 1999|access-date=August 7, 2022}}] |
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Middlebrooks continued to appeal his conviction. In his appeal, he claimed that the Tennessee Supreme Court had erred by denying his request for financial assistance to hire an expert witness and that the court should have granted his request to postpone a hearing. He also argued that he had not received effective legal counsel and that he was the lesser aggressor compared to Brewington. In January 2003, Middlebrooks' appeal was denied, and the [[Tennessee Court of Criminal Appeals]] upheld his conviction, ruling that his arguments would not have changed the jury's decision to impose the death sentence.[{{cite news|last=Bottorff|first=Christian|title=Appeals court upholds conviction in '87 torture, murder|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-tennessean-appeals-court-upholds-con/190320242/|newspaper=[[The Tennessean]]|date=January 11, 2003|page=24|via=[[Newspapers.com]]|access-date=February 1, 2026}}][{{cite news|title=Appeals court upholds Middlebrooks' conviction|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-news-journal-appeals-court-uph/190320218/|newspaper=[[The Daily News Journal]]|date=January 12, 2003|page=3|via=[[Newspapers.com]]|access-date=February 1, 2026}}][{{cite news|title=Conviction upheld in torture-murder of Nashville boy|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-commercial-appeal-conviction-upheld/190320231/|newspaper=[[The Commercial Appeal]]|date=January 12, 2003|page=3|via=[[Newspapers.com]]|access-date=February 1, 2026}}] |
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Middlebrooks continued to appeal his conviction. In his appeal, he claimed that the Tennessee Supreme Court had erred by denying his request for financial assistance to hire an expert witness and that the court should have granted his request to postpone a hearing. He also argued that he had not received effective legal counsel and that he was the lesser aggressor compared to Brewington. In January 2003, Middlebrooks' appeal was denied, and the [[Tennessee Court of Criminal Appeals]] upheld his conviction, ruling that his arguments would not have changed the jury's decision to impose the death sentence.[{{cite news|last=Bottorff|first=Christian|title=Appeals court upholds conviction in '87 torture, murder|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-tennessean-appeals-court-upholds-con/190320242/|newspaper=[[The Tennessean]]|date=January 11, 2003|page=24|via=[[Newspapers.com]]|access-date=February 1, 2026}}][{{cite news|title=Appeals court upholds Middlebrooks' conviction|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-news-journal-appeals-court-uph/190320218/|newspaper=[[The Daily News Journal]]|date=January 12, 2003|page=3|via=[[Newspapers.com]]|access-date=February 1, 2026}}][{{cite news|title=Conviction upheld in torture-murder of Nashville boy|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-commercial-appeal-conviction-upheld/190320231/|newspaper=[[The Commercial Appeal]]|date=January 12, 2003|page=3|via=[[Newspapers.com]]|access-date=February 1, 2026}}] |
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