Governor commutes killer’s sentence

The Mississippi Press, 7/18/8

A Jackson County man serving life in prison for the 1989 murder of his ex-wife has had his sentence commuted by Gov. Haley Barbour and will be released from prison Saturday.

Michael David Graham, who has been incarcerated since 1989, was convicted of the shotgun slaying of Adrienne Klasky Graham, who was killed as she sat in her car on a Pascagoula city street.

Michael Graham has been a trusty at the governor’s mansion for the last eight years.

“Historically, governors have reviewed cases like that of Michael Graham, whose conduct as a prisoner earned him the right to work as a trusty at the governor’s mansion — where he has performed well and proven to be a diligent workman,” said Pete Smith, a Barbour spokesman.