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| Pope Francis and Sir Richard Branson appeal for Oklahoma inmate's life | Pope Francis and Sir Richard Branson appeal for Oklahoma inmate's life |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| For the second time this week, a representative for Pope Francis has asked a US state to call off an execution. | For the second time this week, a representative for Pope Francis has asked a US state to call off an execution. |
| A letter from Archbishop Carlo Maria Vigano sent to Governor Mary Fallin of Oklahoma on behalf of Pope Francis urges her to commute the death sentence of Richard Glossip, who is set to be executed on Wednesday afternoon. The letter from the pope’s representative in the US is dated 19 September, but was released on Wednesday by the governor’s office. | A letter from Archbishop Carlo Maria Vigano sent to Governor Mary Fallin of Oklahoma on behalf of Pope Francis urges her to commute the death sentence of Richard Glossip, who is set to be executed on Wednesday afternoon. The letter from the pope’s representative in the US is dated 19 September, but was released on Wednesday by the governor’s office. |
| The letter says a commutation “would give clearer witness to the value and dignity of every person’s life”. | The letter says a commutation “would give clearer witness to the value and dignity of every person’s life”. |
| JUST IN: Here's the letter @Pontifex sent to Gov. Fallin regarding today's execution of #RichardGlossip @NEWS9 pic.twitter.com/JN1xJdpdwY | JUST IN: Here's the letter @Pontifex sent to Gov. Fallin regarding today's execution of #RichardGlossip @NEWS9 pic.twitter.com/JN1xJdpdwY |
| Billionaire investor Sir Richard Branson also released a letter in support of Glossip on Wednesday, buying an ad in the Oklahoman newspaper, which has advocated in support of the execution. | |
| “This is not about the rights and wrongs of the death penalty. This is about every person deserving a fair trial,” Branson wrote. “Richard Glossip has not received this.” | “This is not about the rights and wrongs of the death penalty. This is about every person deserving a fair trial,” Branson wrote. “Richard Glossip has not received this.” |
| “Your state is about to execute a man whose guilt has not been proven beyond a reasonable doubt.” | “Your state is about to execute a man whose guilt has not been proven beyond a reasonable doubt.” |
| On Monday, Vigano released a letter to the Georgia board of pardons and paroles, also on behalf of the pope, urging the board to grant clemency for Kelly Renee Gissendaner, the only woman on the state’s death row. Gissendaner was executed at 12.21am on Wednesday. | On Monday, Vigano released a letter to the Georgia board of pardons and paroles, also on behalf of the pope, urging the board to grant clemency for Kelly Renee Gissendaner, the only woman on the state’s death row. Gissendaner was executed at 12.21am on Wednesday. |
| During an address to the US Congress last week, the pope called on the United States to abolish the death penalty. One of Glossip’s most high-profile supporters is a Catholic nun, Sister Helen Prejean, who has been urging the state to hear new evidence of his possible innocence. | During an address to the US Congress last week, the pope called on the United States to abolish the death penalty. One of Glossip’s most high-profile supporters is a Catholic nun, Sister Helen Prejean, who has been urging the state to hear new evidence of his possible innocence. |
| Related: Oklahoma death row inmate's supporters: 'He's just such a good man' | Related: Oklahoma death row inmate's supporters: 'He's just such a good man' |
| A spokesman for Fallin said the governor does not have the authority to grant a commutation. Fallin has repeatedly denied Glossip’s request for a 60-day stay of execution and said in a statement on Tuesday she has no plans to stop the punishment. | A spokesman for Fallin said the governor does not have the authority to grant a commutation. Fallin has repeatedly denied Glossip’s request for a 60-day stay of execution and said in a statement on Tuesday she has no plans to stop the punishment. |
| Glossip was convicted of orchestrating the beating death of Barry Van Treese, the owner of the Oklahoma City motel where Glossip worked. But Glossip claims he was framed by the actual killer, Justin Sneed, who is serving a life sentence and was the state’s key witness against Glossip in two separate trials. | Glossip was convicted of orchestrating the beating death of Barry Van Treese, the owner of the Oklahoma City motel where Glossip worked. But Glossip claims he was framed by the actual killer, Justin Sneed, who is serving a life sentence and was the state’s key witness against Glossip in two separate trials. |
| Just hours before Glossip was originally to be put to death on 16 September the Oklahoma court of criminal appeals granted a two-week reprieve to review his claims of new evidence in the case, including another inmate’s assertion that he overheard Sneed admit to framing Glossip. | Just hours before Glossip was originally to be put to death on 16 September the Oklahoma court of criminal appeals granted a two-week reprieve to review his claims of new evidence in the case, including another inmate’s assertion that he overheard Sneed admit to framing Glossip. |
| In a 3-2 decision earlier this week, the same court denied Glossip’s request for a new hearing and paved the way for his execution to proceed. | In a 3-2 decision earlier this week, the same court denied Glossip’s request for a new hearing and paved the way for his execution to proceed. |
| On Tuesday, Glossip’s attorneys made a last-ditch request to both the US supreme court and Governor Fallin to issue a stay of execution. | On Tuesday, Glossip’s attorneys made a last-ditch request to both the US supreme court and Governor Fallin to issue a stay of execution. |
| “Recently discovered evidence demonstrates substantial doubt about Sneed’s credibility,” his attorneys wrote in a petition to the supreme court. | “Recently discovered evidence demonstrates substantial doubt about Sneed’s credibility,” his attorneys wrote in a petition to the supreme court. |
| Glossip was the lead plaintiff in a separate case in which his attorneys argued the sedative midazolam did not adequately render an inmate unconscious before the second and third drugs were administered. They said that presented a substantial risk of violating the eighth amendment prohibition on cruel and unusual punishment. But in June the justices voted 5-4 that the sedative’s use was constitutional. | Glossip was the lead plaintiff in a separate case in which his attorneys argued the sedative midazolam did not adequately render an inmate unconscious before the second and third drugs were administered. They said that presented a substantial risk of violating the eighth amendment prohibition on cruel and unusual punishment. But in June the justices voted 5-4 that the sedative’s use was constitutional. |
| Oklahoma first used midazolam last year in the execution of Clayton Lockett, who writhed on the gurney, moaned and clenched his teeth for several minutes before prison officials tried to halt the process. He died 43 minutes after the sedative was first injected. | Oklahoma first used midazolam last year in the execution of Clayton Lockett, who writhed on the gurney, moaned and clenched his teeth for several minutes before prison officials tried to halt the process. He died 43 minutes after the sedative was first injected. |
| The state then increased by five times the amount of midazolam it uses and executed Charles Warner in January. He complained of a burning sensation but showed no other obvious signs of physical distress. | The state then increased by five times the amount of midazolam it uses and executed Charles Warner in January. He complained of a burning sensation but showed no other obvious signs of physical distress. |