Death penalty plans withdrawn in slaying

DETROIT (AP) -- Federal prosecutors no longer plan to seek the death penalty against two men charged in the 2001 shooting death of an armored-truck courier in Southfield. Documents filed Tuesday in U.S. District Court in Detroit show the government withdrew its intent to seek the death penalty for Norman Duncan and Kevin Watson. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark Chasteen writes in the filing that if the defendants are convicted of bank robbery resulting in death or premeditated murder the death penalty would not be sought. They are charged with killing Norman Stephens during a $204,000 robbery outside a Dearborn credit union. Duncan's attorney Anthony Chambers says the prosecution's decision is the correct one. Michigan's Constitution forbids the death penalty in state court, but it's an option for federal murder prosecutions. Published: Thu, Mar 31, 2011