BIRMINGHAM, AL – An Alabama man convicted of killing the mother of his young son has been sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole despite his expressed wish to receive the death penalty.
Arkeem Marshall, 33, was found guilty Thursday of capital murder in the September 2023 shooting death of TiMira Pullom, 28, at her home in Birmingham. Jurors reached a decision on the verdict in just 15 minutes, but deliberations over his sentence stretched for hours as the court grappled with the unusual circumstances of the case.
During sentencing, Marshall’s defense attorneys disclosed that their client wanted to be executed, but they refused to advocate for that outcome. The court noted that Marshall did not allow his legal team to present mitigating evidence against the death penalty, prompting his lawyers to request a mental competency evaluation. Circuit Judge Shanta Owens denied the request, citing previous competency assessments Marshall had passed.
In preparation for sentencing, Judge Owens permitted Marshall to speak privately with family members to ensure he fully understood the consequences of his decision. Public defender Paul McDaniel described Marshall’s refusal to mount a defense as an act similar to “suicide.”
The unusual nature of the defense left much of the sentencing discussion muted. When asked if closing arguments would be offered, the defense declined, reflecting Marshall’s desire not to counter the possibility of a death sentence.
Prosecutors pursued the capital murder charge because Pullom’s killing occurred in the same home as the couple’s toddler son. The jury ultimately upheld the charge, as the small size of the residence meant that the young child was present when his mother was killed.
During sentencing, Pullom’s mother delivered a tearful victim impact statement, describing the enduring pain her family has suffered since losing her daughter. Jurors and Marshall himself grew emotional as she addressed the courtroom.
Marshall, choosing not to speak before the jury, later apologized privately to Pullom’s family. He expressed deep remorse, stating that Pullom did not deserve to die and acknowledging the loss suffered by their son.
Testimony revealed that Marshall and Pullom were in the midst of resolving an argument about his pending move out of her house when the confrontation escalated. Marshall admitted to law enforcement that he acted out of anger, firing six shots, four of which struck Pullom.
Their son, just 17 months old at the time of the incident, is now three years old and being raised by Pullom’s mother.
Prosecutors condemned Marshall’s actions, noting that Pullom had always supported him and highlighting the gravity of the crime, especially given the presence of the couple’s child.
Marshall will serve a life sentence without the possibility of parole, closing a case that left lasting scars on both families and the community.