Family of victim, accused seeking leniency in death penalty case

ST. LOUIS -- Relatives of a death row inmate who killed his St. Louis grandmother in 1993 after she refused to give him money to buy crack cocaine are asking the governor for leniency.

"We have had enough death in our family," said Matthew Knuckles, a Rock Hill alderman for 16 years.

Last month, the Missouri Supreme Court set an April 27 execution date for Donald Jones, 38. He was convicted on June 16, 1994, of first-degree murder and armed criminal action in the beating and stabbing of Dorothy Knuckles, 68. A judge sentenced him to death on July 22, 1994.

Matthew Knuckles and another brother of the victim, Lester Knuckles, are leading the effort to persuade Gov. Matt Blunt to reduce Jones' sentence to life in prison without parole.

The family is circulating a petition and has filed a request for clemency with Blunt.