Richard Glossip, facing execution for a 1997 murder, receives a new trial due to doubts about key witness testimony.
Glossip’s case dates back to 1997 when he was arrested after his boss died. Glossip has been on death row for over 25 years, and he even had his “last meal” three times.
Glossip was convicted of the murder of Barry Van Treese, his boss, who owned a motel. Justin Sneed admitted to the murder, saying Glossip paid him $10,000, and Sneed received a life sentence. Glossip ordered Wendy’s, pizza, and more for his last meals.
The Supreme Court ruled 5-3 for Glossip after discovering Sneed had bipolar disorder. Sneed received lithium after his arrest, and the court found this relevant. Sneed’s willingness to lie mattered to them.
Glossip had an execution date of November 20, 2014, which was postponed for staff training. They needed training for new lethal injection drugs, and legal challenges caused four more stays in 2015.
Governor Mary Fallin issued a reprieve following Charles Warner’s torturous execution. Warner said, “My body is on fire,” which happened with the potassium acetate drug.
His execution was set for September 2022, but doubts arose, so it was deferred twice. Governor Kevin Stitt then intervened in the situation.
Glossip’s lawyer, Don Knight, says there is no evidence and that no juror would convict with all evidence. A cellmate said Sneed confessed to setting up Glossip and that Glossip did nothing. Evidence mix-ups also occurred over the years, with crucial papers going missing during the legal process.