An Oklahoma judge has granted bond to Richard Glossip, allowing him to be released from custody while awaiting a retrial for a 1997 murder case. The decision marks a significant development in Glossip's decades-long legal battle, during which he narrowly avoided execution three times. Judge Natalie Mai set Glossip's bond at $500,000, requiring him to wear an electronic monitoring device, refrain from traveling outside Oklahoma, and avoid contact with witnesses or substance use. His attorney, Donald Knight, expressed hope that Glossip's supporters would contribute to the $50,000 needed for his release.
Glossip, 63, was sentenced to death for the murder of his former boss, Barry Van Treese, in what prosecutors alleged was a murder-for-hire scheme. The U.S. Supreme Court overturned his conviction last year, ruling that prosecutors violated his constitutional rights by allowing a key witness to testify falsely. The witness, Justin Sneed, confessed to the killing but claimed Glossip had paid him. Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond announced the state would retry Glossip on a murder charge but would not seek the death penalty again.
The judge's order emphasized the expectation that both the prosecution and defense would rigorously pursue their cases, aiming for a fair trial free of errors. Glossip's release comes after years of legal challenges and high-profile support, including from Kim Kardashian, who has advocated for his innocence.