Oklahoma governor grants last-minute stay of execution after drug mix-up

And Sneed’s former cellmate Justin Tapley came forward with evidence of Glossip’s innocence on the eve of his September 16 execution date. Gov. Mary Fallin has said she lacks the power to commute the death sentence.

When learning about the role that the drug played in the delay, Glossip said: “That’s just insane”.

A man convicted of ordering his manager’s homicide has had his execution postponed as a result of doubt on the deadly drugs, in the last minute. After the Lockett execution, the state increased by five times the amount of midazolam it uses and executed Charles Warner in January. The drug was used in a botched execution in the state a year ago.

“Today’s hastily abandoned plans show what happens when states carry out executions in secrecy with unqualified execution team members and no public oversight”, he said.

Richard Glossip was slated to die at 3 PM Wednesday. Ms. Fallin said the stay would allow the Department of Corrections and its lawyers to determine whether potassium acetate – a drug the state planned to use that it had not previously disclosed – complied with the state’s court-approved protocols. State protocols adopted following the flawed execution of Clayton Lockett past year directed that the warden of the Oklahoma State Penitentiary “verifies execution inventory” two days prior to an execution. Patton said he requested a stay of execution for Richard Glossip “out of due diligence”.

Sneed is serving a life sentence and avoided the death penalty by testifying against Glossip. Leathers says the state is executing a person with little evidence against him.

“Last minute questions were raised today about Oklahoma’s execution protocol and the chemicals used for lethal injection”, said Fallin.

Back in McAlester, where the execution was to take place, Glossip’s attorney talked with him on the phone.

As the hours passed, it wasn’t clear whether Oklahoma tried to find the correct drug – the death warrant was good until midnight – or whether it was waiting for the Supreme Court to grant Glossip a reprieve. Though it was proven Glossip did not physically murder Van Treese, the victim’s family believes he was involved due to an attempt to cover up a $10,000 embezzlement.

Lawyers for Richard Glossip say the death row inmate deserves a hearing on a claim that he is innocent. The motel’s owner had found a discrepancy in the motel’s books.

Glossip is now scheduled to die November 6. The notice is also posted on Branson’s blog. It wasn’t known whether Glossip was already on a gurney in the death chamber when the error was discovered. She was motivated not by mounting evidence of the innocence Glossip has long maintained, but because of questions about the lethal injection protocol.

Before the US Supreme Court, only Justice Stephen Breyer said he would have granted Glossip a stay of execution. At the summit of this mountain of injustices stands Glossip’s murder by lethal injection in state custody, which has only been delayed.

Pruitt asked for an indefinite stay.

The court did not mention a vote in its denial but said, “Justice (Stephen) Breyer would grant the application for stay of execution”.

Fallin has repeatedly denied Glossip’s request for a 60-day stay of execution. “The governor will respect their decision”, Weintz said.

The news emerges hours after Kelly Gissandaner became the first woman to be executed in Georgia in 70 years.

The pope called for an end to the death penalty during his visit to the United States last week. A few wore T-shirts with his picture on the front and, on the back, “PLEASE HELP ME FREE AN INNOCENT MAN”. A request for a stay of execution is pending with the U.S. Supreme Court.

Glossip also served as a plaintiff in a case that argued the sedative midazolam violated the US’s ban on cruel and unusual punishment.