Supreme Court throws out Oklahoma inmate Richard Glossip's murder conviction and death sentence
World
“Glossip is entitled to a new trial,” Justice Sonia Sotomayor wrote for five justices.
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court on Tuesday threw out the murder conviction and death penalty for Richard Glossip, an Oklahoma man who was found guilty in the killing of a motel owner but has steadfastly maintained his innocence and averted multiple attempts by the state to execute him.
Glossip’s wife, Lea, called the decision “an answered prayer.” Glossip, now 62, has spent nearly half his life behind bars for his role in a 1997 killing at a motel in Oklahoma City.
Prosecutors’ decision to allow a key witness to give testimony they knew to be false violated Glossip’s constitutional right to a fair trial, the justices ruled in a case that produced a rare alliance of his lawyers and the state’s Republican attorney general in support of a new day in court for Glossip.
“Glossip is entitled to a new trial,” Justice Sonia Sotomayor wrote for five justices.
Justices Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito dissented, voting to uphold the conviction and death sentence, while Justice Amy Coney Barrett would have allowed a state appeals court to decide how to proceed.
Thomas wrote that the majority had “cast aside” the interests of victim Barry Van Treese’s family. The victim’s relatives had told the high court that they wanted to see Glossip executed. A message left with Van Treese’s brother, Ken Van Treese, was not immediately returned Tuesday.
