Oklahoma court clears the way for execution of a man convicted in a Tulsa woman's killing
Follow
An Oklahoma appeals court on Wednesday ordered a stay of execution to be lifted for a man on death row, clearing the way for him to receive a lethal injection for killing a Tulsa woman in 1999.
John Fitzgerald Hanson, 61, has been scheduled to be put to death Thursday, but a district court judge temporarily halted the execution this week after Hanson's attorneys argued he didn't receive a fair clemency hearing before the state's Pardon and Parole Board. The Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals ordered that temporary stay of execution be lifted.
Hanson's attorneys had argued the 3-2 vote against recommending clemency was tainted because one of the members of the board had worked for the same district attorney's office that prosecuted his case. The Oklahoma Attorney General's Office maintained the district court judge didn't have the authority to issue a stay of execution.
The appeals court wrote in its order that the district judge didn't have the authority and that even if he did, the order was 'an extreme and unwarranted measure' given that even if the member's vote wasn't counted, a tie still would not have resulted in a clemency recommendation.
Hanson's attorneys said in a statement that they plan to appeal to the Oklahoma Supreme Court.
'No person facing execution should have to plead for mercy in front of a decisionmaker with direct ties to their prosecution,' said one of Hanson's attorneys, Emma Rolls. 'This case is also about the integrity of Oklahoma's clemency process and the promise of a fair, impartial hearing.'
Hanson has a separate appeal pending before the US Supreme Court alleging prosecutors failed to disclose information about a key witness to his defense team.
Hanson was sentenced to death in Tulsa County after he was convicted of carjacking, kidnapping and killing Mary Bowles. Authorities said he and an accomplice kidnapped the woman from a Tulsa shopping mall.
Hanson had been serving a life sentence in federal prison in Louisiana for several unrelated federal convictions. But President Donald Trump's administration expedited his transfer to Oklahoma custody in March, following through on a sweeping executive order to more actively support the death penalty.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
New York Post
a few seconds ago
- New York Post
Oklahoma QB John Mateer embroiled in ‘sports gambling' controversy
Gambling content 21+. The New York Post may receive an affiliate commission if you sign up through our links. Read our editorial standards for more information. Oklahoma starting quarterback John Mateer is in some hot water. The redshirt junior has found himself embroiled in controversy after social media sleuths tracked down his Venmo payments account, where he made some questionable comments on transactions. Mateer is alleged to have sent money on Nov. 20, 2022, for 'sports gambling (UCLA vs USC)' and another 'sports gambling' transaction to the same person. John Mateer during hsi time with Washington State. Getty Images He denied any wrongdoing in a statement Tuesday. 'The allegations that I once participated in sports gambling are false,' Mateer wrote on X. 'My previous Venmo descriptions did not accurately portray the transactions in question but were instead inside jokes between me and my friends. I have never bet on sports. I understand the seriousness of the matter, but recognize that, taken out of context, those Venmo descriptions suggest otherwise. I can assure my teammates, coaches, and officials at the NCAA that I have not engaged in any sports gambling.' College athletes are not allowed to bet on college sports in any capacity, per NCAA rules, which would make any alleged wager a violation with potential serious consequences. The alleged game in question happened Nov. 19, 2022, where Caleb Williams and the Trojans won, 48-45, to claim the Victory Bell. Mateer allegedly then paid Richard Roaten an undisclosed amount the following day with the game reference in the caption, along with another unspecified payment that did not list a game. The incoming senior was a freshman at Washington State at the time, where he appeared in just one game that season, going 2-2 with a touchdown. Betting on College Football? He transferred to Oklahoma for this season and is the Sooners' projected starter. Oklahoma officials told ESPN they were aware of Mateer's Venmo activity, although no investigation had been mentioned. The No. 18 Sooners begin the season at home against Illinois State, before battling Michigan on Sept. 6. Why Trust New York Post Betting Erich Richter is a brazilian jiu-jitsu blue belt but he has a black belt in MMA betting. During the football season he's showcased massive profits at The Post in the player prop market the last two seasons. While constantly betting long shots, his return on investment is 30.15 percent since 2022.
USA Today
a few seconds ago
- USA Today
Oklahoma's John Mateer denies making sports gambling payments on Venmo
The past Venmo transactions suggesting that Oklahoma quarterback John Mateer had gambled on college football games were instead 'inside jokes between me and my friends,' Mateer said on social media Tuesday, Aug. 12. Earlier on Tuesday, multiple reports cited screengrabs in linking Mateer to three-year-old reimbursements on Venmo that contained descriptions labeled 'sports gambling.' One screengrab included a note that the Venmo payment was related to a matchup between Southern California and UCLA. 'The allegations that I once participated in sports gambling are false,' Mateer said in a statement posted on X. 'My previous Venmo descriptions did not accurately portray the transactions in questions but were instead inside jokes between me and my friends. I have never bet on sports. I understand the seriousness of the matter, but recognize that, taken out of context, those Venmo descriptions suggest otherwise. 'I can assure my teammates, coaches and officials at the NCAA that I have not engaged in sports gambling.' Oklahoma also released a statement regarding the matter: "OU takes any allegations of gambling seriously and works closely with the NCAA in any situations of concern. OU athletics is unaware of any NCAA investigation and has no reason to believe there is one pending." The NCAA has had a longstanding ban against student-athletes gambling on sports. According to the governing body, students, coaches and other staff members 'are not allowed to bet or provide any useful information that can influence a bet in any sport the NCAA sponsors at any level.' That ban could soften somewhat with a proposal this June by the Division I Council that would allow for gambling on professional sports. If adopted, NCAA enforcement efforts would focus 'on college sports betting and behaviors that directly impact game integrity.' At the time of these transactions in 2022, Mateer was a true freshman at Washington State who played in one game and compiled 80 yards of total offense and one touchdown. After spending the 2023 season in backup role, Mateer was a breakout star last year, finishing with roughly 4,000 yards of offense and 44 combined touchdowns. He joined Oklahoma this past offseason along with former Washington State offensive coordinator Ben Arbuckle, who was hired for the same position. On the heels of a disappointing 6-7 finish in the program's SEC debut, Mateer's arrival is one reason why the Sooners are expected to rebound and contend for an at-large College Football Playoff berth. Oklahoma opens the year just outside the US LBM Coaches Poll as the first team among those also receiving votes.
Bloomberg
a minute ago
- Bloomberg
China Is Playing the Long Game on Trade. It's Working.
President Donald Trump's trade war was meant to rebalance global power in America's favor. Instead, China is playing the long game, enduring short-term economic pain to shape any eventual deal to its advantage. The strategy appears to be working — for now. On Monday, Washington granted Beijing another 90-day reprieve, extending a pause on tariffs through Nov. 10. China announced it would do the same. Markets welcomed the move, which offered some relief after months of tension. The delay will give President Xi Jinping's policymakers more time to plan their next move.
