Oklahoma to execute man for 2002 killing of infant daughter
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Oklahoma to execute man for 2002 killing of infant daughter
OKLAHOMA CITY – A judge ordered the state to begin lethal injections of a man convicted of the 2002 killing of an infant daughter because of a federal court ruling declaring his sentence unconstitutional.
The execution was halted on Monday due to the decision from the U.S. Supreme Court, which overturned his sentence, which took away his right to appeal.
That is unless the state can get the ruling overturned by the U.S. 5th Circuit Court of Appeals.
Oklahoma Attorney General Mike Hunter said the state would begin its execution immediately if necessary.
“We’re at a time right now when the nation is deeply divided. And the death penalty is not among the issues that will determine that,” Hunter said. “We stand against the death penalty. We believe in life and we believe in justice and we believe that we have to do what is in our power and within our ability to bring our nation’s focus back to our Constitution.”
Hunter said he would release any information about why the death sentence was overturned only after the state attorney general’s office presented information.
He said he would continue seeking clemency from the U.S. Supreme Court on behalf of the defendant.
“The case is set for review in the United States Supreme Court, and if in fact there is a possibility of clemency by the full court or the court may be willing to take up the case,” Hunter said.
The man, 52-year-old Roger Dean, was convicted of capital murder in the 2002 slaying of his infant daughter. He is set to be put to death for killing the baby girl by beating her into unconsciousness.
The U.S. Supreme Court recently overturned his death sentence, which took away his right to appeal.
However, the 5th Circuit Court of Appeal stayed the planned execution pending the outcome of a petition to rehear the case.
The state had asked a federal judge for an emergency stay, arguing that the decision from the U.S. Supreme Court could lead to other similar cases