Republican Oklahoma legislator calls for hearings on death row case

Article Author:

Associated Press

Sean Murphy

Oklahoma City (AP) — 60+ Oklahoma Many Republicans who support the death penalty, including members of Congress, have asked the state attorney general to join the request for a new evidence hearing in the case of death row inmate Richard Grossip.

A group of 61 state legislators last week voted against Attorney General John O'Connor following an independent investigation by a Texas law firm that raised questions about Grossip's guilt. sent a letter to

"The report concluded that a reasonable jury, hearing all the evidence, would not find Mr. Grossip guilty," the letter states. "As an elected official representing the citizens of this great nation, I believe it is very important that this case be taken seriously so that the truth may finally be discovered."[42]

The Houston law firm Reed Smith's report found no conclusive evidence of Grossip's innocence, but raised concerns about the loss or destruction of evidence, suggesting that detectives in the case had filed for Grossip's innocence. , which alleged Glossip was involved in the 1997 murder of Barry Van Treese, Glossip's boss and motel owner. Sneed, who admitted to killing but said he killed at Glossip's direction, was sentenced to life in prison and was a key witness against Glossip.

O'Connor's office did not immediately respond to a request for comment, but prosecutors in O'Connor's office told the Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals that Grossip's testimony hearing was not possible. I asked you to deny the request. That's a delay tactic.

"Appellant's action in this sense is protracted and in this case only prolongs the awaiting justice for victim Barry Van Trees and his family," states the state. wrote in response to Grossip's objection to setting the execution date.

Glossip, now 59, has pleaded not guilty and was scheduled for three executions, but was exonerated shortly before the death sentence was carried out. Just hours after his execution in September 2015, prison guards realized they had received the wrong lethal drug. The mix-up put him on a moratorium on the death penalty in Oklahoma for nearly seven years.

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