An appeals court has agreed to halt the execution of an Oklahoma man who claims he was framed for the 1997 beating death of his boss.
Richard Eugene Glossip was scheduled for execution at 3 p.m. Wednesday afternoon. But the Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals granted a request from Glossip's attorneys, who say they needed more time to explore new evidence.
Governor Mary Fallin issued this statement after the Oklahoma Court of Criminal appeals today granted a two-week stay of execution to Richard Glossip:
“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 office will respect whatever decision the court makes, as we have throughout this process. My thoughts and prayers go out to the Van Treese family who has suffered greatly during this long ordeal.”
Glossip was twice convicted of ordering the killing of Barry Van Treese, who owned the Oklahoma City motel where Glossip worked. His co-worker, Justin Sneed, was convicted of fatally beating Van Treese and was a key prosecution witness in Glossip's trials.
But Glossip's attorneys say they have new evidence, including a signed affidavit from another inmate who claims he heard Sneed admit he set Glossip up.