Court halts execution of Oklahoma man who claims innocence

An appeals court halted the execution of an Oklahoma man with just hours to spare Wednesday after his attorneys said they had uncovered new evidence, including a fellow inmate’s claim that he overheard another man convicted in the case admit he acted alone. Richard Eugene Glossip was twice convicted of ordering the killing of Barry Van Treese, who owned the Oklahoma City motel where he worked. A co-worker who testified against Glossip, Justin Sneed, admitted to beating Van Treese with a baseball bat and was sentenced to life in prison.

Everybody is freaking out. We’re really excited. We actually got off the road and pulled over.

Glossip’s daughter, Ericka Glossip-Hodge

Glossip, 52, had been set for execution at 3 p.m. Wednesday, but the Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals agreed to delay his lethal injection just before noon. Glossip’s lawyers said they obtained a signed affidavit from another inmate, Michael Scott, who claims he heard Sneed say “he set Richard Glossip up, and that Richard Glossip didn’t do anything." The court said it granted the last-minute request "in order for this court to give fair consideration” to Glossip’s claims. The court rescheduled his execution for Sept. 30.

As I have repeatedly said, court is the proper place for Richard Glossip and his legal team to argue the merits of his case. My thoughts and prayers go out to the Van Treese family, who has suffered greatly during this long ordeal.

Republican Gov. Mary Fallin, who has rejected calls to delay Glossip’s execution

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