Wilder Commutes Death Sentence

Virginia Gov. L. Douglas Wilder on Tuesday commuted the death sentence of convicted murderer Joseph M. Giarratano Jr., whose scheduled Friday electrocution had become a rallying symbol for death penalty opponents.

Wilder’s conditional pardon, which is likely to be accepted by Giarratano by a 5 p.m. deadline today, reduces the sentence of the drug addict-turned-legal expert to life imprisonment with the possibility of parole 13 years from now.

The governor--who has refused three other pleas for clemency from condemned murderers during his 13 months in office--gave no reason for his decision in the commutation order. Aides said any comment from him might prejudice a new trial that Giarratano is seeking.

Giarratano’s attorney, Gerald T. Zerkin, said his client was still studying Wilder’s commutation offer in his cell at the prison here, where Virginia’s electric chair is housed, and declined to comment further.

Wilder said that Giarratano, 33, should be eligible for parole after serving 25 years, including credit for the 12 years he already has served.