Supreme Court Dramatically Overturns Death Row Inmate Richard Glossip’s Murder Conviction, Mandates Fresh Trial

The U.S. Supreme Court recently overturned the murder conviction of Richard Glossip, an Oklahoma death row inmate. In a 5-3 ruling, the court ordered a new trial after finding significant errors made by prosecutors in Glossip’s original case.

Justice Sonia Sotomayor stated that prosecutors failed to correct false testimony during the trial. This ruling comes after Glossip has spent decades in prison, maintaining his innocence in the death of his boss, Barry Van Treese, in 1997.

Glossip was accused of orchestrating a fatal attack on Van Treese, who owned a motel where Glossip worked as a handyman. The prosecution’s key witness, Justin Sneed, claimed that Glossip offered him $10,000 to commit the murder. Following a plea deal, Sneed is now serving a life sentence without the possibility of parole.

The Supreme Court highlighted that crucial evidence was mishandled. They pointed out that prosecutors did not disclose Sneed’s psychiatric issues and destroyed important evidence. This failure left the jury with unreliable information about Sneed’s credibility, which was essential to their decision.

No date has been set for the new trial. Glossip’s attorney, Don Knight, expressed hope, calling the ruling a win for justice and emphasizing that Glossip deserves a fair trial after 27 years of proving his innocence.

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