OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — The Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals set execution dates for six death row inmates just hours before an attorney for one planned to ask for a rehearing in his case.
The court on Friday set dates for James Coddington, Richard Glossip, Benjamin Cole, Richard Fairchild, John Hanson and Scott Eizember, starting Aug. 25 with Coddington and followed on Sept. 22 with Glossip.
Glossip attorney Don Knight plans to file for a new hearing based on a report from a Houston law firm that contends Glossip is innocent.
Knight says the court should remove Glossip’s execution date until it has considered the report.
“We respectfully disagree with the decision of the Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals to set an execution date for Richard Glossip before the findings of the Reed Smith Report on his case, and new evidence of his innocence, can be heard in a court of law.
Don Knight, attorney for Richard Glossip
Just weeks ago, an independent investigation requested by Republican lawmakers was completed by more than 30 highly respected attorneys from nationally renowned law firm Reed Smith. These lawyers, who spent over 3,000 pro bono hours investigating this case, discovered a police investigation riddled with errors and neglect, detectives with fatal ‘tunnel vision,’ a reckless prosecution, unconscionable destruction of evidence, a miserable failure by Glossip’s court-appointed attorneys, and new evidence showing that Rich Glossip had nothing to do with the murder. Richard Glossip has been through three tortuous execution dates already. It does not serve justice to set a fourth execution date for an innocent man before all this new evidence can be fully considered in a court of law.
Public reaction to this new evidence makes clear that Oklahomans, even those who support the death penalty, do not want to see an innocent man executed. We implore the Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals to strike Richard Glossip’s execution date until this new information can be fully considered.”
Oklahoma Attorney General John O’Connor released the following statement:
“Today, the Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals set execution dates in six cases involving the murders of eight individuals: Albert Hale, Barry Van Treese, Brianna Cole, Adam Broomhall, Mary Bowles, Jerald Thurman, and A.J. and Patsy Cantrell.
The earliest of these murders was committed in 1993, and the most recent was in 2003.
The family members of these loved ones have waited decades for justice. They are courageous and inspiring in their continued expressions of love for the ones they lost. My office stands beside them as they take this next step in the journey that the murderers forced upon them.
Oklahomans overwhelmingly voted in 2016 to preserve the death penalty as a consequence for the most heinous murders. I’m certain that justice and safety for all of us drove that vote.”
Attorney General John O’Connor
Here is the list of dates set:
James Coddington-August 25, 2022
Richard Glossip-September 22, 2022
Benjamin Cole-October 20, 2022
Richard Fairchild-November 17, 2022
John Hanson-December 15, 2022
Scott Eizember-January 12, 2023
