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Reed Smith augments Richard Glossip report with further new findings

New interviews and newly uncovered documents raise further concerns about case and conviction of Oklahoma death row inmate currently scheduled for execution on Dec. 8

Home Neuigkeiten Reed Smith augments Richard Glossip report with further new findings
OKLAHOMA CITY – Reed Smith today released its Third Supplemental Report regarding its ongoing independent investigation into the case of Richard Glossip, an inmate on death row in Oklahoma since 1997.

Rechtsanwälte: David E. Weiss Stan Perry

In its initial report, issued June 15, a Reed Smith investigative team found that no reasonable jury hearing the complete record would convict Glossip of first-degree murder. Since then, the team has uncovered several new findings that bolster this assertion, as detailed in two previous supplemental reports issued Aug. 9 and Aug. 23.

As detailed in the Third Supplemental Report (pdf) issued today, two significant developments have occurred since the Reed Smith investigative team issued its Second Supplemental Report.

First, the team interviewed Justin Sneed, the State’s primary witness against Glossip, in which Sneed confirmed having had multiple discussions about “recanting” his testimony with several people over an 11-year period. The interview also addressed other inconsistencies in Sneed’s testimony as corroborated by newly obtained documents from the Oklahoma Department of Corrections, the Oklahoma County Jail Trust, the Oklahoma County Public Defender’s Office, and the district attorney’s case file.

Second, the team was granted access by Glossip’s defense counsel to a portion of the district attorney’s case file that it previously had not been given access to by the State, which only recently made these files available to the defense team. In these files, the Reed Smith team discovered documentation of the State violating the Court’s Rule of Sequestration during Glossip’s retrial by providing Sneed, through his attorney, information regarding testimony given by other witnesses. Sneed got this information right before he testified on May 26, 2004.

“It appears that at least one purpose for providing this information to Sneed was so he could conform his testimony to match that of the other witnesses,” said Reed Smith partner Stan Perry, a member of the investigative team.

Reed Smith is conducting its ongoing independent investigation into Glossip’s case and conviction on a pro bono basis. The firm launched the investigation at the request of an ad hoc committee of Oklahoma state legislators.

To date, 62 Oklahoma legislators have requested the state attorney general to consent to an evidentiary hearing.

On Aug. 6, Gov. Kevin Stitt granted Glossip a 60-day stay of execution while a state appeals court considers his case. Glossip is scheduled for execution on Dec. 8, 2022.

The Reed Smith investigative team’s third supplemental report (pdf, Sep. 20) second supplemental report (pdf, Aug. 23), first supplemental report (pdf, Aug. 9), summary (pdf, July 21) and full report (pdf, June 16) are available to the public.