The jury found Carroll guilty of capital murder. Carroll contends that the gun discharged accidentally, and there is no direct evidence to show the contrary. A shell casing with was found, but there were no fingerprints on it, and no other physical evidence was found.

During the penalty phase of Carroll's trial the panel heard that Carroll's mother had kicked him out of the house at the insistence of her drug-abusing husband and that his grandmother raised him in one of Birmingham's worst slums.

Several members of Betty Long's family asked that Carroll's life be spared. The jury voted 10-2 for life, but Judge Alfred Bahakel ordered Carroll to the electric chair. Carroll was sent to Holman's death row where he awaited execution. The co-accused in this case was sentenced to life without parole.

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