Oklahoma Drops Murder Charge Against Richard Glossip, Avoiding Third Trial
Glossip agrees to plead guilty to a lesser charge to end his 30-year legal saga. He will be sentenced in December. The post Oklahoma Drops Murder Charge Against Richard Glossip, Avoiding Third Trial appeared first on The Intercept .
Richard Glossip, 63, was freed from a three-decade legal nightmare when Oklahoma dropped the murder charge against him on Thursday. The Oklahoma County Court judge, Natalie Mai, accepted Glossip's plea of accessory after the fact, dismissing the murder charge against him. This final step brings Glossip's saga to an end after two convictions and a death sentence for the 1997 murder of his boss, Barry Van Treese.
A 19-year-old maintenance man, Justin Sneed, admitted to killing Van Treese but claimed Glossip had encouraged him to do so. Sneed served a life sentence and helped secure Glossip's plea deal. With Van Treese's family present, Glossip confirmed his voluntary acceptance of the plea. Glossip's attorneys argue he would have been eligible for full release in 2016 under Oklahoma law.
Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond, who expressed concerns about the case, confirmed his office will seek additional prison time. The decision rests with Judge Mai, who must determine whether Glossip should be sentenced to time served or face further punishment.
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