The Supreme Court has tossed out the murder conviction and death sentence of Oklahoma’s Richard Glossip, ordering a new trial.
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.
The justices heard arguments in October in a case that produced a rare alliance in which lawyers for Glossip and the state argued that the high court should overturn Glossip’s conviction and death sentence because he did not get a fair trial.
The justices found that Glossip’s trial violated his constitutional rights. Meanwhile, the victim’s relatives had told the Supreme Court that they wanted to see Glossip executed.
Oklahoma’s top criminal appeals court had repeatedly upheld the conviction and sentence, even after the state sided with Glossip.
Glossip has always maintained his innocence. Another man, Justin Sneed, admitted robbing Van Treese and beating him to death with a baseball bat but testified he only did so after Glossip promised to pay him $10,000. Sneed received a life sentence in exchange for his testimony and was the key witness against Glossip.
This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.
Fox News’ Shannon Bream contributed to this report.
