Robert Yarbrough is scheduled to be executed June 25, 2008

**Contact Gov. Tim Kaine by telephone and/or fax and politely ask him to grant clemency (show mercy) to Robert Yarbrough by commuting his death sentence to life without the possibility of parole. 

Gov. Tim Kaine
Phone: (804) 786-2211
Fax: (804) 371-6351

NOTE:  You can e-mail Gov. Kaine via his web page, but we urge more personal and tangible contact.

 

**And please attend the vigil at:

GREENSVILLE CORRECTIONAL CENTER

Execution site - Jarratt, VA
Gather on Wednesday, June 25th at 8:30 pm; end by 9:30 pm 

DIRECTIONS: The Greensville Correctional Center is located in Greensville County, not far from the town of Jarratt in Sussex County. Jarratt is at exit 20 of Interstate 95, 55 miles south of Richmond, and 20 miles north of the North Carolina border. After taking exit 20 turn right at the end of the exit ramp, if coming from Richmond (turn left if coming from Emporia). The first stop sign is at the intersection with US 301. There are convenience stores at the intersection, which have rest facilities (there are no rest facilities for us at the prison). Turn left (south) onto 301 and go eight-tenths of a mile. Turn right on the state road 397, Ridge Road (there is a marker for Greensville Correctional Center). Cross the railroad tracks and continue into Greensville County. You’ll soon see the prison and a sign on the right for parking in the field. Park there.

 Bring a flashlight and bug repellent.

Richmond-area residents who plan to participate in the vigil will assemble at the old Azalea Mall at 7 p.m. to car pool to the site. 

 


 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 

Robert Stacy Yarbrough     

Date of Birth:  June 1, 1978

Sex: Male

Race: Black

Entered the Row: Jan. 20, 1999

District:  Mecklenburg

Conviction: Capital murder and robbery

Virginia DOC Inmate Number: 264973

 

 

 

On June 26, 1998, a 10-woman, two-man jury in Mecklenburg County convicted Robert Yarbrough of capital murder and robbery in the slaying of Cyril Hugh Hamby, 77, after deliberating for less than three hours. During the penalty phase, the jury recommended that Yarbrough be executed after deliberating less than one hour.[i] Earlier, prosecutors removed three African-Americans from the jury pool through peremptory strikes.[ii]     

 

At trial, the jury heard evidence that armed with a shotgun on the evening of May 8, 1997, Robert Yarbrough, 18, and Dominic Rainey, 17, entered Hamby’s Store and tied up the owner.  Yarbrough then demanded that Hamby tell him where he kept his guns and after Hamby insisted that he did not own any guns, Yarbrough kicked him in the head and upper arm and took cash from the register. Yarbrough again asked Hamby where he kept his guns and Hamby continued to maintain that he did not own any guns.  Yarbrough then took out a knife from his pocket and began to slice Hamby’s neck. Before leaving the store, Yarbrough and Rainey took beer, wine and cigarettes.  Hamby subsequently bled to death.  Several days later, police discovered Yarbrough’s blood-stained clothing and arrested him for the Hamby murder.  Rainey was the principal witness against Yarbrough.[iii] 

 

The Supreme Court of Virginia overturned the sentence on Sept. 17, 1999 and remanded the case for a new sentencing hearing.  During the penalty phase, Judge Charles L. McCormick III had erred when he refused to respond to a question from the panel about whether life in prison meant life in prison without parole.  The case went back to Mecklenburg County Circuit Court for a new sentencing hearing.  A different jury sentenced Yarbrough to death again on Dec. 8, 2000. McCormick once again affirmed the jury’s recommendation and sentenced Yarbrough to die.

  

The Virginia Supreme Court affirmed the death sentence on Sept. 14, 2001 and on May 13, 2002, the U.S. Supreme Court refused to review the case.[iv] 

 


[i] The Richmond Times-Dispatch. June 27, 1998. B-4.

[ii] Robert Stacy Yarbrough v. Commonwealth of Virginia.  Sept. 14, 2001.

[iii] Robert Stacy Yarbrough v. Commonwealth of Virginia. Sept. 17, 1999.

[iv] Robert Stacy Yarbrough v. Virginia. May 13, 2002.

 

   
 
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