An Oklahoma man whose execution by the state has been postponed a number of instances, together with three shut calls by which he consumed his “final meals,” has discovered an unlikely ally in his effort to vacate his homicide conviction.
Oklahoma Lawyer Common Gentner Drummond, a Republican, contends that prosecutors hid proof in Richard Glossip’s trial for the 1997 murder-for-hire killing of his boss.Â
Glossip’s attorneys on Wednesday will argue earlier than the U.S. Supreme Court docket for the justices to grant him a brand new trial.Â
“If he’s executed, I consider that it is going to be a travesty of justice,” Drummond stated in an interview with Reuters.Â
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Oklahoma Lawyer Common Gentner Drummond is asking for loss of life row inmate Richard Glossip to be granted a brand new trial. (Oklahoma Division of Corrections by way of AP, File)
Glossip, now 61, was convicted in 1998 of the killing, however an appeals court docket overturned that conviction based mostly on ineffective protection counsel. After a second trial in 2004, he was discovered responsible of first-degree homicide.Â
“After a complete unbiased investigation, I consider it’s clear that prosecutors dedicated a Brady violation by not sharing probably exculpatory proof with the defendant and violated Napue [Napue v. Illinois] by knowingly permitting false testimony that prevented the defendant from receiving due course of,” Drummond stated in a press release to Fox Information Digital.Â
Glossip has maintained his innocence within the 1997 killing in Oklahoma Metropolis of his former boss, motel proprietor Barry Van Treese. One other man, Justin Sneed, admitted robbing and killing Van Treese however testified he solely did so after Glossip promised to pay him $10,000.Â
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Oklahoma Lawyer Common Gentner Drummond testifies throughout a Home Homeland Safety Committee listening to (REUTERS/Nathan Howard/File Picture)
Sneed acquired a life sentence in trade for his testimony and was the important thing witness in opposition to Glossip.
“Oklahomans need to have absolute religion that the loss of life penalty is run pretty and with certainty,” stated Drummond. “I don’t consider that justice is served by executing a person based mostly on the testimony of a compromised witness.”
Drummond does not consider Glossip is harmless however stated he did not obtain a good trial. Amongst his considerations are that prosecutors knew Sneed lied on the witness stand about his psychiatric situation and his motive for taking the mood-stabilizing drug lithium.Â
The chief prosecutor has additionally cited a field of proof within the case that was destroyed, together with motel receipts, a bathe curtain and masking tape that Glossip’s legal professional, Don Knight, stated might have probably confirmed Glossip’s innocence.
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Within the years since being sentenced to loss of life, Glossip’s execution date has been modified 9 instances, he has been fed three “final meals,” and he has been married twice.Â
Fox Information Digital has reached out to the Oklahoma County District Lawyer’s Workplace.Â
Amongst those that stay satisfied of Glossip’s guilt is former Oklahoma County District Lawyer David Prater, who reviewed Glossip’s case a number of instances and who urged the state’s Pardon and Parole Board to reject clemency for him despite the fact that the unique case was prosecuted by his predecessors.
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“I went by that case greater than as soon as and checked out all the things that was there, and there was nothing that triggered me to have any query in regards to the integrity of that conviction and that loss of life sentence,” Prater advised the AP.
A call is anticipated by early summer time.
The Related Press contributed to this report.
