BACKGROUND: From a previous post (September 4, 2021) of this Blog (Link below); Richard Glossip: Oklahoma: (Petition); Thousands are signing a new petition calling on Governor to examine the 1997 murder conviction that sent him to death row,, KOKC reports. From the petition: (Link below).."Oklahoma is Preparing to Execute an Innocent Man While the Confessed Murderer Serves Life and the Accomplice Is Still At Large.'... It’s one of the most controversial cases in America: Richard Glossip has been on Oklahoma’s death row for 23 years, even though everyone agrees another man, Justin Sneed, actually committed the murder. Glossip’s conviction was based primarily on statements made by Justin Sneed. But new evidence shows the killing was a botched robbery carried out by Sneed and a female accomplice, and Glossip wasn’t involved. Now, while Sneed serves a life sentence, Glossip’s execution may be fast approaching. Sign now to tell the Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt and the State Pardon and Parole Board urging them to order a thorough and independent investigation into new evidence that casts serious doubt on the conviction of Richard Glossip."
PASSAGE OF THE DAY: "Glossip is now the lead plaintiff in a federal lawsuit challenging Oklahoma's three-drug lethal injection protocol as unconstitutional. The trial in that case is scheduled to begin next week in Oklahoma City"..."Glossip was set to be executed in October 2015 but it was postponed at the last minute when prison officials realized that they had the wrong drugs for lethal injection.”
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STORY: “A Texas law firm says it has at least 20 attorneys ready to review the case of an Oklahoma death row inmate waiting to be executed,” by Associated Press reporter Sean Murphy, published by Death Penalty News on February 23, 2022;
GIST: “A partner with a Texas law firm said Tuesday at least 20 attorneys are prepared to review the case of an Oklahoma death row inmate who has long maintained his innocence in the 1997 killing of a motel owner in Oklahoma City.
Stan Perry, an attorney with Houston-based ReedSmith, said his firm already has begun reviewing the case of Richard Glossip, 59, who was twice convicted and sentenced to die for killing Barry Van Treese, the owner of the motel where Glossip worked.
A group of Republican House members, led by state Rep. Kevin McDugle, said they have serious concerns about Glossip's guilt and sought an outside law firm to review the case.
“We have a team of 20 attorneys working on this, including two former prosecutors, and our task is to come up with, develop and do a thorough, complete, independent investigation," Perry said. “We are not on any one side. We are not counsel for Mr. Glossip. We have this task to be objective, thorough and independent."
Perry said the team hopes to wrap up its investigation by April.
Glossip was just moments from being executed in 2015 when prison officials realized they received the wrong drug for his scheduled lethal injection. The discovery led to a nearly seven-year moratorium on the death penalty in Oklahoma that ended last year with the execution of John Grant in October.
Glossip is now the lead plaintiff in a federal lawsuit challenging Oklahoma's three-drug lethal injection protocol as unconstitutional. The trial in that case is scheduled to begin next week in Oklahoma City.
Glossip was convicted and sentenced to die by two separate Oklahoma County juries for ordering the killing of Van Treese. Motel handyman Justin Sneed admitted robbing and beating Van Treese with a baseball bat, but said he did so only after Glossip promised to pay him $10,000.
Sneed is serving a life-without-parole sentence for his role in the killing.
Oklahoma County District Attorney David Prater, who took office after Glossip's second trial ended with a second death sentence, was unavailable to comment on the case Tuesday.
But Prater has said previously that he's reviewed transcripts from the original trial, boxes of evidence and videotaped police interviews, and remains convinced of Glossip’s guilt.
Prater has said, if necessary, he would retry Glossip for first-degree murder and seek the death penalty again.
McDugle, meanwhile, has a bill this session that would create a conviction integrity unit at the Pardon and Parole Board to review death penalty convictions in certain cases.
Glossip was set to be executed in October 2015 but it was postponed at the last minute when prison officials realized that they had the wrong drugs for lethal injection.”
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PUBLISHER'S NOTE: I am monitoring this case/issue. Keep your eye on the Charles Smith Blog for reports on developments. The Toronto Star, my previous employer for more than twenty incredible years, has put considerable effort into exposing the harm caused by Dr. Charles Smith and his protectors - and into pushing for reform of Ontario's forensic pediatric pathology system. The Star has a "topic" section which focuses on recent stories related to Dr. Charles Smith. It can be found at: http://www.thestar.com/topic/charlessmith. Information on "The Charles Smith Blog Award"- and its nomination process - can be found at: http://smithforensic.blogspot.com/2011/05/charles-smith-blog-award-nominations.html Please send any comments or information on other cases and issues of interest to the readers of this blog to: hlevy15@gmail.com. Harold Levy: Publisher: The Charles Smith Blog;
