Oklahoma dismisses murder charge against former death row inmate Richard Glossip

A murder charge against Richard Glossip, a former death row prisoner who was nearly executed multiple times, was dismissed on Thursday after being granted a retrial in the 1997 killing of his former boss, according to his attorney.He was sentenced to death over the killing of a motel owner named Barry Van Treese, who was beaten to death with a baseball bat. Prosecutors alleged that Treese was killed in a murder-for-hire plot but Glossip has maintained his innocence for almost 30 years. His conviction was thrown out by the Supreme Court last year after finding issues with key witness testimony. The court determined that prosecutors admitted testimony they knew to be false, violating Glossip’s right to a fair trial.He served nearly 30 years in prison before being released on bond in May. Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond announced last year that he intended to retry Glossip on a first-degree murder charge, but without seeking the death penalty. But Drummond also agreed with the Supreme Court decision, saying it was “an undeniable fact that he did not receive a fair trial.”Glossip pleaded guilty to a lesser charge of being an accessory to murder after the fact Thursday morning in order to “put this matter to rest,” according to his attorney Don Knight. His sentencing will be held in December, his attorney said. Knight noted that Glossip would have been released a decade ago if prosecutors had originally convicted him of the accessory charge. “We look forward to an opportunity to show why returning him to custody would not serve the interests of justice, and to ending this nightmare for Rich and all concerned,” Knight said. Prosecutors intend to seek a maximum 45-year sentence, according to Drummond’s office. Drummond said that it was difficult decision, but that “this path ensures a conviction related to Mr. Van Treese’s murder and gives us the best chance to secure additional prison time for Glossip.” Since his 1998 conviction, Glossip has had nine execution dates scheduled. At least three times he has been served what was expected to be his last meal.