Summary: Desperately clinging to new evidence that has been uncovered, attorneys for Richard Glossip are trying to have his execution delayed.
According to CBS News, attorneys for Richard Eugene Glossip, an inmate awaiting his fate on death row, are scrambling to make last-minute efforts to stop his execution. The attorneys argue that they have come across evidence that shows Glossip was framed.
Late Tuesday, truly a matter of hours before Glossip’s scheduled execution on Wednesday, attorneys requested that the Oklahoma Court of Criminal appeals stop Glossip’s lethal injection. They stated that new details had been revealed in the murder case, such as a signed affidavit from an inmate who was serving time with Justin Sneed, another man convicted of the killing. Sneed is serving a life sentence for the crime.
Missouri ranks first in executions per capita.
Mark Henricksen, one of Glossip’s lawyers, said, “We’re asking for a stay of execution to give the court more time to review this new evidence, which we think casts grave doubt on Richard’s guilt.”
Glossip is 52-years-old, and was convicted of directing the 1997 beating death of Barry Van Treese. Van Treese owned the motel where Glossip was employed.
Sneed was the prosecution’s star witness. During his testimony, he claimed that Glossip planned Van Treese’s death, because he was afraid he was about to be fired for embezzlement and poorly managing the motel.
Sneed entered a deal with prosecutors: for a sentence of life in prison, he would testify during the trial. Michael Scott, the inmate that provided the affidavit, said that he overheard Sneed say “he set Richard Glossip up, and that Richard Glossip didn’t do anything.” Additionally, The Atlantic reports that Sneed’s daughter tried to alert Oklahoma officials in October that Sneed’s testimony may be inaccurate. She said, “For a couple of years now, my father has been talking to me about recanting his original testimony. I feel his [conscience] is getting to him.”
During a short interview with the Associated Press, Glossip maintained that he was innocent. He is optimistic that his execution will be stopped. He said, “They’ll never take that from me. I’ll hope for the best. I won’t let it bring me down. If you’ve got to go out…you don’t want to be bitter and angry about it.”
Last year, a Texas man who was mentally ill had his execution stayed.
Glossip’s case has caught the attention of the entire county. Death penalty opponents, along with Glossip’s family and other supporters, gathered at the Oklahoma Capitol on Tuesday to protest his execution.
The supporters want Governor Mary Fallin, a Republican, to order a 60-day stay so that attorneys can investigate the new leads. However, on Wednesday, Governor Fallin said that she is certain that Glossip is guilty, and “after carefully reviewing the facts of this case multiple times,” she has no plans to stop the lethal injection.
Susan Sarandon, a highly respected actress, is one of Glossip’s supporters. Sarandon played Sister Helen Prejean in the movie “Dead Man Walking.” Sister Prejean is a vocal anti-death penalty advocate who has served as Glossip’s spiritual advisor. She plans to attend his execution on Wednesday, should it go forward.
The lethal injection is scheduled for 3:00 p.m.
Prison officials at the Oklahoma penitentiary are following a new protocol in light of a U.S. Supreme Court ruling that supported the state’s three-drug formula.
Read about the Supreme Court case here.
Under the new protocol, Glossip’s telephone and visitation privileges stopped at 11:00 p.m. Tuesday. He may speak with his attorneys, however.
Also under the new protocol, Glossip will be transported to a special cell as he awaits his execution. He may have a book or a magazine, toothpaste, a toothbrush, a comb, soap, a pen and paper, and religious items.
Terri Watkins, a spokeswoman for the Department of Corrections, said that Glossip did receive his special last meal on Tuesday. His breakfast and lunch will be standard meals on Wednesday.
For Glossip’s last meal, he ordered a Baconator cheeseburger and a strawberry malt from Wendy’s; two orders of fish and chips from Long John Silver’s; and chicken fried steak, mashed potatoes and a dinner roll from Chili’s.
UPDATE: As of 2:43 p.m. Eastern Standard Time, the Huffington Post has reported that Glossip’s execution has been rescheduled for September 30 so that the new evidence may be reviewed.
Source: CBS News
Photo credit: kjrh.com, newsok.com (Henricksen)