CCATDP’s Heather Beaudoin was recently interviewed by RYOT regarding Richard Glossip’s capital case. Earlier this year, he was the plaintiff in case that challenged lethal injection protocol and reached the US Supreme Court. It was however, rejected by 5 of the 9 justices, but concerns surrounding his conviction are leading more and more Americans to call for his reprieve until the doubts regarding his verdict are settled. RYOT author, Eric Pfieffer wrote,
Glossip was convicted in the 1997 murder of Barry Van Treese. However, Glossip himself was never accused of committing the act of killing. Rather, that dishonor went to Justin Sneed, who is currently serving a life sentence. That alone seems almost incomprehensible: That the man who actually and unquestionably committed murder is serving a lesser sentence than someone convicted of being an accomplice to the crime but whose guilt is still in question.
Pfieffer continued,
His first trial was actually overturned when it was decided that his legal representation was incompetent. And the second trial, which resulted in Glossip’s conviction, was based almost entirely on word of mouth testimony due to the lack of physical evidence. And now, there is also reportedly video evidence appearing to show Sneed being coerced into offering his testimony against Glossip, who has always maintained he was unaware of the murder or plan against Van Treese.
CCATDP’s Heather Beaudoin also shared her thoughts on Glossip’s conviction,
There’s also a growing confluence of seemingly strange bedfellows in this case. For example, a group calling itself Conservatives Concerned About the Death Penalty says they support Sarandon’s petition and have been sending their own representatives to lobby local evangelical pastors and conservative media outlets to bring attention and action to the case.
“There’s so much doubt about his guilt,” coordinator Heather Beaudoin told RYOT. “We have been trying to engage evangelical pastors both in Oklahoma and nationally. There are lot so questions that have not been answered and we don’t think the execution should go forward.”
Beaudoin also said,
“We’ve had conservatives come out in opposition to the death penalty for a number of reasons,” Beaudoin said, “whether it’s the cost, time involved or the question of justice.”