We can’t let a man die in such circumstances

On September 30, Richard Glossip came within hours of death in an Oklahoma prison before being granted a temporary stay of execution. 

The stay was not an act of mercy; the state discovered at the last minute it did not have the drugs it was required by law to use to kill him and had no choice but to put his death on hold — the second time in two weeks that this man had suffered the agony of coming dangerously close to the time he was scheduled to die.

Richard was condemned to death on the basis of the unsupported testimony of the man who admits the killing. Justin Sneed cut a deal with the prosecution for his “evidence”. In return for implicating Richard, and saying that he had asked him to commit the murder, he was spared the death penalty himself and now enjoys the comforts of a minimum security prison.

Witnesses who have served time with Sneed say that he openly boasts of how he was able to save his own life by pinning his crime on Richard. Oklahoma prosecutors dismiss these witnesses, claiming that they are unreliable, because their records prove them to be liars, thieves, and drug users. Ironically, this profile could easily serve to describe their own star witness in the case.

A new date has been set for Richard’s execution, November 6. There is no intention on the state’s part to re-examine the evidence. The delay is for the sole purpose of sourcing the drugs needed.

Again, I would urge people to go to the richardeglossip.com and sign the petition to put pressure on the state to halt this grave injustice.

Revd Patrick G Burke

Castlecomer

Co Kilkenny