Oklahoma AG appoints independent counsel in Glossip case

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) – Oklahoma’s new attorney general is appointing an independent counsel to conduct a comprehensive review of death row inmate Richard Glossip’s murder conviction and death sentence.

Attorney General Gentner Drummond announced the appointment Thursday of former District Attorney Rex Duncan.

The 59-year-old Glossip has long maintained his innocence in the 1997 murder-for-hire killing of his boss, Barry Van Treese.

A Houston law firm that looked into Glossip’s conviction last year reported lost or destroyed evidence in the case and that a detective improperly asked leading questions to a co-defendant in the case, Justin Sneed.

Sneed was sentenced to life in prison.

Glossip is scheduled to be executed on May 18.