Last-Minute Stay Granted in Controversial Execution

An appeals court has agreed to halt the execution of an Oklahoma man who claims he was framed for the 1997 beating death of his boss. Richard Eugene Glossip was scheduled for execution at 3pm today. But the Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals granted a request from Glossip's attorneys, who say they needed more time to explore new evidence. Glossip, 52, was twice convicted of ordering the killing of Barry Van Treese, who owned the Oklahoma City motel where Glossip worked. His co-worker, Justin Sneed, was convicted of fatally beating Van Treese and was a key prosecution witness in Glossip's trials. But Glossip's attorneys say they have new evidence, including a signed affidavit from another inmate who claims he heard Sneed admit he set Glossip up.

Under Oklahoma's execution protocol, Glossip's telephone and visitation privileges were terminated at 9pm last night, but he was still allowed to speak with his attorneys. He was to be moved to a special cell as he awaited execution at the Oklahoma State Penitentiary, where he would be allowed to have a pen and paper, religious items, a book or magazine, and toiletries including soap, toothpaste, a toothbrush, and a comb. Glossip received a special last meal yesterday: chicken fried steak, mashed potatoes, and a dinner roll from Chili's; two orders of fish and chips from Long John Silver's; and a strawberry malt and Baconator cheeseburger from Wendy's. Click for more on the case.