Richard Glossip pleaded guilty to a lesser charge on Thursday in Oklahoma City to avoid a third capital murder trial after spending nearly 30 years on death row.
Glossip admitted to a charge of accessory after the fact in the 1997 killing of motel owner Barry Van Treese, according to an article from vg.no. The original first-degree murder charge was dropped after the U.S. Supreme Court vacated his previous conviction.
The state conceded it lacked sufficient evidence to prove Glossip committed premeditated murder. Defense attorney Don Knight spoke to CNN about the long legal battle.
After 30 years, after nine execution dates and three last meals, the state has finally admitted that they do not have enough evidence to convict Richard Glossip of premeditated murder.
said Don Knight, defense attorney, according to CNN.
Accessory Plea Details
The plea agreement means Glossip accepted the prosecution’s claim that he helped cover up a broken window at the motel. Van Treese’s body was discovered inside a room at the location.
Knight told the Associated Press that Glossip never saw the body and did not know it was inside the room. Knight maintained that Glossip had no role in planning or executing the homicide.
Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond explained the strategy to NBC News.
This secures a conviction related to the murder of Van Treese and gives us the best opportunity to secure additional prison time for Glossip.
said Gentner Drummond, Oklahoma Attorney General, according to NBC News.
Sentencing Arguments
Prosecutors plan to request the maximum sentence of 45 years in prison. The defense will argue that the nearly 30 years Glossip has already served satisfies the penalty.
A sentencing hearing is scheduled for December 17 and December 18. Glossip was released on bond in May following the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn his capital murder conviction.
Federal justices found that the prosecution failed to correct false testimony and withheld evidence from the defense. Motel employee Justin Sneed admitted to beating Van Treese to death with a baseball bat during the original trial proceedings.
Key Trial Background
Sneed testified that Glossip promised him $10,000 to carry out the attack. Sneed received a sentence of life in prison and served as the primary witness for the state.
Glossip received a death sentence in 1998, and a subsequent death sentence in 2004 after his initial conviction was overturned. He has consistently maintained his innocence regarding the murder.
An execution scheduled for 2015 was halted at the last minute when prison officials discovered one of the intended execution drugs failed to comply with state protocol. Knight emphasized the physical and psychological toll of those decades.
We believe Rich has more than made up for it after spending nearly 30 years on death row, where he was served three last meals and was minutes away from being executed for a crime he didn’t commit.
said Knight, according to AP.
Questions Regarding Richard Glossip's Plea and Sentence
What charge did Richard Glossip plead guilty to?
Glossip pleaded guilty to being an accessory after the fact in connection with the 1997 killing of motel owner Barry Van Treese, according to vg.no.
Why was the original murder charge dropped?
The original first-degree murder charge was dismissed after the U.S. Supreme Court vacated his conviction, ruling that prosecutors withheld evidence and failed to correct false witness testimony.
What sentence are prosecutors requesting?
State prosecutors intend to ask for the maximum sentence of 45 years, while the defense argues that the nearly 30 years Glossip already spent in prison should be considered time served, with a sentencing hearing scheduled for December 17 and 18.
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