Oklahoma Gov. Brad Henry stays execution for a man convicted of a 1994 Rosedale murder
Gov. Brad Henry extended a stay of execution for a man convicted in a 1994 murder so authorities could continue to review fingerprint evidence. Jeffrey David Matthews was to be put to death Tuesday, but at the request of defense attorneys, Henry agreed to extend the stay until Aug. 17.
Gov. Brad Henry on Thursday extended a stay of execution for an Oklahoma death row inmate so authorities could continue to review fingerprint evidence.
Jeffrey David Matthews was to be put to death Tuesday, but at the request of defense attorneys, Henry agreed to extend the stay until Aug. 17.Matthews originally was scheduled to be executed in June for a 1994 Rosedale murder, but a stay was granted after his attorneys asked for time to review fingerprint evidence. The defense requested a second stay to review new fingerprint impressions of individuals it contends are potential suspects in the case.
Matthews, 35, was convicted in 1995 of killing Otis Earl Short, 77. He was also convicted of assaulting Short's wife, Minnie Delores Short, 75. Matthews was sentenced to death.
The Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals ordered a new trial, finding that statements made by Matthews after his arrest should not have been used at trial.
At his second trial in 1999 Matthews again was convicted and sentenced to death.
Governor stays Oklahoma execution
OKLAHOMA CITY — Gov. Brad Henry has extended a stay of execution for an Oklahoma death row inmate so authorities can continue to review evidence in the case.
Jeffrey David Matthews was scheduled to die by lethal injection next Tuesday. But Henry agreed to a defense request to extend the stay. A new execution date has been set for Aug. 17.
Matthews, 38, of Purcell, was sentenced to die for the Jan. 27, 1994, murder of Otis Earl Short during a robbery of Short's McClain County home.
Matthews earlier had an execution set for June. But a stay of execution was granted after defense attorneys asked for time to review fingerprint evidence.
They now say more time is needed to review fingerprint impressions of individuals they believe are potential suspects in the case.
OKLAHOMA CITY -- A new report this week may shed more light on a murder case that's placed an Oklahoma man on death row.
According to a letter written to Governor Brad Henry's office from the Attorney General's Office, tests on a set of unidentified fingerprints found at the crime scene of a 1994 McClain County murder may be completed as soon as this week.
Earl Short was shot and killed in a burglary. His great nephew, Jeffrey Matthews, was convicted of the crime and is currently sitting on death row.
Matthews has received two stays of execution from Governor Henry after the missing set of finger prints were recently discovered in a lab at the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigations. His new execution date is August 17.
Rick Sitzman was the prosecuting attorney in Matthews' trial. He said the mysterious fingerprints are worth looking at, but they'll do little to change Matthews' fate. He said Matthews, who confessed to playing a role in the crime, will still be considered a killer.
"Because if he was there and he participated under an accomplice theory, a co-conspirator theory, he would still be held responsible for the murder," Sitzman said.
Sitzman said it'll likely take a third person to step up and confess to shooting and killing Earl Short, and then Matthews face only a re-sentencing, not another trial.
Jeffrey Matthews has received two stays of execution from Governor Henry after a missing set of finger prints from the crime scene were recently discovered in a lab at the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigations.
Earl Short was shot and killed in a burglary. His great-nephew, Jeffrey Matthews, was convicted of the crime and is currently sitting on death row.
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