---
title: "VICTIMS: Murder Victim's Family in Utah Opposes Upcoming Execution"
description: 'Family members of the victim whom Ronnie Lee Gardner killed in Utah are now asking that his life be spared. Gardner’s attorneys have requested a clemency…'
canonical: 'https://deathpenaltyinfo.org/victims-murder-victims-family-in-utah-opposes-upcoming-execution'
section: news
date: '2010-05-06T15:23:14-04:00'
updated: '2025-03-14T14:28:02-04:00'
source: 'Death Penalty Information Center'
---

Family members of the victim whom **Ronnie Lee Gardner** killed in **Utah** are now asking that his life be spared. Gardner's attorneys have requested a clemency hearing and the family members of the victim, Michael Burdell, would be called to testify in favor of sparing Gardner's life. Gardner has chosen to be executed by **firing squad**. "Knowing Michael, as I did, he would not want Ronnie Lee to be executed," said Donna Nu, Burdell's former girlfriend at a court hearing recently. "Further, he would not want to be the reason Ronnie Lee is executed." Nu noted that Burdell, who was a pacifist, served in Vietnam but refused to carry a gun. Burdell's father and another friend would also testify for Gardner. At the time of his death, Michael Burdell served as an attorney helping poor people at the courthouse.

(N. Carlisle, "[Gardner fights to stave off execution](https://www.sltrib.com/sports/ci_15016447/)," Salt Lake Tribune, May 5, 2010). See also [**Victims**](https://deathpenaltyinfo.org/policy-issues/victims-families) and [**New Voices**](https://deathpenaltyinfo.org/facts-and-research/new-voices).