The Supreme Court threw away the death penalty and murder conviction for Richard Glossip on Tuesday. He is an Oklahoman man who has maintained his innocence while avoiding multiple execution attempts.
The justices found that Glossip’s trial violated his constitutional rights.
In October, the justices heard arguments from both lawyers representing Glossip as well as the state. Both argued for a reversal of Glossip’s conviction and death penalty because he didn’t receive a fair trial.
Glossip’s victims told the court they wanted him to be executed.
Oklahoma’s highest criminal appeals court upheld the convictions and sentences, even though the state had sided with Glossip.
Glossip was convicted and sentenced to death in the 1997 killing in Oklahoma City of his former boss, motel owner Barry Van Treese, in what prosecutors have alleged was a murder-for-hire scheme.
Glossip always insisted on his innocence. Another man named Justin Sneed admitted to robbing Van Treese with a baseball bat and killing him but said he did it only after Glossip offered him $10,000. Sneed was given a life term in exchange for his testimony. He was also the main witness against Glossip.
