When Escobar appealed to the Supreme Court, the prosecutor supported his bid. But the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals overturned the judge’s order for a new trial, even though the newly elected prosecutor in Travis County, Texas, was no longer standing behind the conviction. The inmate, Areli Escobar, had been convicted and sentenced to death based of forensic evidence that a judge later found to be flawed. Barwick, who was executed in Florida on Wednesday.īut in a similar situation to Glossip’s, the justices in January ordered a Texas appeals court to look again at the case of a death-row inmate who also had the backing of prosecutors. The court rejected pleas from 15 others, including Darryl B. Glossip is the first inmate who was granted a reprieve by the justices since their term began in October. His case also was featured in the 2017 documentary film “Killing Richard Glossip.” Prejean herself has served as Glossip’s spiritual adviser and frequently visited him in prison. Glossip’s case attracted international attention after actress Susan Sarandon - who won an Academy Award for her portrayal of death penalty opponent Sister Helen Prejean in the 1995 movie “Dead Man Walking” - took up his cause in real life. That mix-up helped prompt a nearly seven-year moratorium on the death penalty in Oklahoma. His last scheduled execution, in September 2015, was halted just moments before he was to be led to the death chamber when prison officials realized they had received the wrong lethal drug. Glossip has been just hours away from being executed three separate times. ![]() He was given a reprieve in 2015, although the court later ruled 5-4 against him in a case involving the drugs used in lethal executions. Glossip’s case has been to the Supreme Court before. “We were reaching the end of the visit where we would have to say our goodbyes when the warden came in, pulled us out into the hallway and told us the news,” Lea Glossip said in a text message to The Associated Press.“It truly feels like answered prayers.” Glossip was spending his last day of contact visitation with his wife, Lea Glossip, at the prison when he learned of the news, she said. Kevin McDugle said in a brief telephone interview on Friday. Some Republican state lawmakers who support the death penalty have joined the growing chorus of Glossip supporters who are seeking to overturn his conviction. Two separate independent investigations have revealed problems with the prosecution’s case.ĭrummond said Sneed lied on the stand about his psychiatric condition and his reason for taking the mood-stabilizing drug lithium, and that prosecutors knew Sneed was lying.Īlso, evidence was destroyed, Drummond said. “In light of Gentner Drummond’s position regarding the stay, I don’t feel like the Supreme Court had much of a choice,” Prater said. Prater said Sneed and Glossip also both had a large amount of cash that Prater said they stole from Van Treese’s car. He even helped Sneed clean up everything.” “At any point, Glossip had the opportunity to tell the police that Sneed did this. “When police came to talk to Glossip about Van Treese’s whereabouts, he directed him away from the room he knew Van Treese was in,” Prater said Friday. He said that while Sneed’s testimony was most compelling, there was plenty of evidence to corroborate it. Van Treese’s brother, Ken Van Treese, declined to comment on Friday’s ruling.įormer Oklahoma County District Attorney David Prater has long said he believes Glossip persuaded Sneed to kill Van Treese. ![]() Sneed received a life sentence in exchange for his testimony and was the key witness against Glossip. Another man, Justin Sneed, admitted robbing and killing Van Treese after Glossip promised to pay him $10,000. ![]() “I will continue working to ensure justice prevails in this important case,” he said.īut Drummond also has said he does not believe Glossip is innocent of the murder-for-hire killing of Glossip’s former boss, Barry Van Treese, in 1997.
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