Final answer:
Pontius Pilate, the Roman governor, sentenced Christ to death by crucifixion after initially attempting to pass the responsibility to King Herod.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Roman governor who sentenced Christ to death was Pontius Pilate. He presided over the trial of Jesus and, despite his initial reluctance to execute Jesus, he eventually succumbed to the pressure of the local Jewish authorities and the crowd. Pilate attempted to pass the responsibility to King Herod, but it was ultimately returned to him, leading to his final decision to have Jesus crucified, which was a common Roman punishment for crimes against the state, including rebellion.