By Ala. judge sentences man to death for Pine Level killing
Prattville, AL – An Autauga County judge has sentenced a
man to death for the fatal shooting of a businessman.
Circuit Judge John Bush imposed the sentence Thursday on
22-year-old Justin Tyler Hosch for the 2008 killing of Joey
Willmore.
The victim was shot as he was working in the auto repair shop he
planned to open in the Pine Level community.
Prosecutors proved to a jury that Hosch shot Willmore in the
head during a robbery. They said Hosch wanted Willmore's pickup to
aid in his escape from the Frank Lee Youth Facility.
Tom Azar, one of Hosch's attorneys, asked the judge to impose a
sentence of life in prison without parole. Azar said life in prison
would be a harsher penalty.