Board recommends clemency for Oklahoma death row inmate

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) – The Oklahoma Board of Pardon and Parole is recommending clemency for death row inmate James Coddington.

The board voted 3-2 on Wednesday to recommend Gov. Kevin Stitt grant clemency to Coddington, who was convicted and sentenced to die for killing 73-year-old Albert Hale inside Hale’s home in Choctaw in 1997.

Prosecutors say Coddington beat Hale on the head with a hammer after Hale, a friend and co-worker, refused to loan $50 to Coddington to buy cocaine.

An emotional Coddington apologized to the Hale family and said he is “OK” with the death penalty, but told the board that he is a different man today.