VERDICT

Death-Row Inmate Can’t Give New Evidence

OK court rejects hearing with proof of innocence.

An Oklahoma appellate court on Monday ruled against death-row inmate Richard E. Glossip in his request for a new hearing to present evidence that his lawyers say proves his innocence. Judge David B. Lewis wrote the three-judge majority of the Court of Criminal Appeals that the new evidence “merely builds upon evidence previously presented to the court.” Two judges dissented, citing the evidence against Glossip as weak. A father of seven was beaten to death with a baseball bat inside a motel he owned in 1997. A 19-year-old confessed to the killing, but said Glossip, who was the motel manager, convinced him to do it. Glossip was convicted based largely on Sneed’s testimony and Sneed was sentenced to life in prison as part of a plea deal. One of Glossip’s lawyers, Mark Henricksen, said he anticipates taking the request to the U.S. Supreme Court in a last ditch effort before Wednesday’s scheduled execution.