The Supreme Court is currently hearing arguments in a high-profile death penalty case in Oklahoma. The case involves Phillip Hancock, a man scheduled to be executed for a double slaying that occurred in 2001. Despite Hancock’s claims of self-defense, he is set to receive a three-drug lethal injection on Thursday.
The Oklahoma Pardon and Parole Board had recommended that Republican Governor Kevin Stitt spare Hancock’s life in a 3-2 vote, but Stitt has not taken any action on the recommendation as of Thursday morning. This decision comes after Stitt commuted the death sentence of another inmate in 2021, but rejected clemency recommendations for two others who were later executed.
Hancock has consistently maintained that he acted in self-defense when he shot and killed Robert Jett Jr. and James Lynch. He claims that the two men, who were allegedly members of outlaw motorcycle gangs, attacked him inside Jett’s home. Hancock’s attorneys argued during a clemency hearing that Jett had lured Hancock to his home and that he was forced to fight for his life.
However, the state’s attorneys presented evidence suggesting that Hancock’s accounts of the incident were inconsistent and did not align with the physical evidence. They also argued that Hancock chased Jett into the backyard after shooting him inside the house and shot him again, which they claimed was not an act of self-defense.
During the clemency hearing, family members of the victims testified against recommending clemency for Hancock. Ryan Jett, the brother of Robert Jett Jr., expressed that while his brother was not perfect, he did not deserve to die in such a violent manner.
Hancock’s lawyers also highlighted the fact that his trial attorneys struggled with substance abuse during the case and failed to present important evidence. They argued that this compromised Hancock’s defense.
This execution is significant in Oklahoma, as it marks the fourth execution in the state this year and the 11th since the resumption of executions in 2021. Oklahoma has a history of executing more inmates per capita than any other state since the reinstatement of the death penalty in 1976.
The next execution scheduled in Oklahoma is that of James Ryder, who was sentenced to death for a 1999 killing. The case has sparked a broader debate on the death penalty and its methods.
In conclusion, the Supreme Court’s hearing of the death penalty case in Oklahoma has garnered significant attention. The case involves Phillip Hancock, who claims self-defense in a 2001 double slaying. Despite recommendations for clemency, Hancock is set to be executed, raising further discussions about the death penalty in the state.
