Killer's death wish is granted

BREWTON -- An Atmore man fired his attorneys Friday just before closing arguments in his capital murder trial, then admitted to jurors that he killed his infant son and asked to be executed, court officials said Monday.

Jurors took less than half an hour to find Christopher Johnson, 34, guilty of capital murder -- a step required by law even with the guilty plea -- and later recommended that he die by lethal injection.

"It certainly was an unusual ending," said Escambia County District Attorney Steve Billy. "The jury complied with Mr. Johnson's wishes. It was a troubling, sad case, but in the end, justice was served."

Escambia County Circuit Judge Bradley Byrne ordered a mandatory pre-sentencing hearing, and once the report is completed, final sentencing will take place. Officials said that could occur Feb. 22, two years and two days after the baby's death.

Public Defender Todd Stearns said Monday he was surprised when his client dismissed Stearns and co-counsel Charles Johns.

Johnson said in court that he no longer trusted the two and that they were not truthful with him.

"I think Chuck (Johns) and I would disagree with that assessment," Stearns said. "I thought we had done a pretty good job getting the judge to include manslaughter as a possible verdict for the jury to consider. Johnson just didn't like the risk of being convicted of a lesser included offense and going to jail. He could have gone to prison, and he just didn't want to go."

Johnson was arrested Feb. 20, 2005, after his son, 6-month-old Elias Ocean Johnson, was pronounced dead at an area hospital. An autopsy revealed that the baby had some 85 separate injuries, including several blows to the head and face, a fractured sinus bone and injuries to the back of the throat. The baby had breathed in blood and swallowed blood from the injuries. There was a bite mark near the elbow of one arm.

Witnesses reported that Johnson said he killed the boy because he hated his wife and wanted to end their relationship. He told jurors he wanted no appeals, though Alabama law requires an automatic appeal in death penalty cases.

Witnesses said Johnson admitted slapping his son and putting pressure on his body. He also testified he rammed his fingers down the infant's throat to quiet his crying.

Court officials said Johnson wept when prosecutors played a taped statement he made shortly after the infant's death. He showed little reaction, witnesses said, when gruesome autopsy photos were shown to the jurors.