| A Wirt County jury has granted mercy to a Parkersburg man after being found guilty of murder and other charges.
The jury had found 31-year-old Howard Murray guilty of first degree murder, burglary, destruction of property and two counts of battery.
The charges stem from the 2008 murder of 33-year-old Brent Butler near Elizabeth. Authorities say three men robbed Butler and then stabbed him to death.
The two other suspects 33-year-old Oscar Gibson and 20-year-old Corey Robinson reached plea agreements.
The mercy recommendation means Murray may not have to spend the remainder of his life in prison.
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