Oklahoma conducts last execution of 2023 despite clemency recommendation

Nov. 30—Oklahoma death row inmate Phillip Hancock maintained through his last words a double murder he was convicted and sentenced to death for were done in self-defense.

An Oklahoma County jury found Hancock guilty of the April 27, 2001, murders of Robert Jett Jr., 37, and James Lynch, 58 in Oklahoma City.

Hancock was executed at 11:29 a.m. Thursday after a legal question from his defense team pushed the execution to start more than an hour past the scheduled 10 a.m. start time.

Oklahoma Department of Corrections Executive Director Steven Harpe said Hancock's legal team asked for a "continuance" of the execution at 9:10 a.m. with legal counsel from the Oklahoma governor's office asking for a pause in the execution process. Harpe said ODOC received the go-ahead to proceed with the execution an hour later at 10:10 a.m.

"We were thankful to the governor for taking on his careful consideration," Harpe said.

Sean Murphy, with the Associated Press, reported that Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt declined the Oklahoma Pardon and Parole Board's Nov. 8 recommendation for clemency. No official statement from the governor's office was made on the decision.

One of Hancock's attorney's, Shawn Nolan, said his team was "profoundly sad" because of Stitt's decision to decline clemency.

"This was a clear case of self-defense and the Governor and the state ignored a wealth of evidence showing that Phil was fighting for his life. He fought to stay out of a cage to defend his life only to be caged and tragically killed by the state," Nolan said in a statement. "Phil had an exemplary record over the twenty years that he was housed on death row. He was a caring son and devoted brother. The tragedy of this killing is outrageous, and all Oklahomans should be ashamed. May Phil rest in peace."

Jake Bleiberg, who witnessed the execution for the Associated Press, said Hancock used his last words to thank his attorneys for their work and support before looking at Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond and telling the AG he was "hoodwinked" and said the AG's office was "vile," "virtueless," and "without honor."

Drummond, who was present but who did not speak at the press conference, said in a statement "justice was served" and he hoped Thursday brought "a measure of peace" for the families.

According to media witnesses, Hancock said he hoped that evidence he claimed was being withheld by the AG's office would give him a post-mortem exoneration.

Bleiberg said at 11:16 a.m., Hancock laughed when the execution process began with liquid being seen flowing in his IV line at 11:17 a.m. Hancock was declared unconscious at 11:23 a.m. according to Bleiberg with Hancock's face appearing to lose color at 11:25 a.m. with no signs of breathing occurring at 11:28 a.m.

Hancock was declared dead at 11:29 a.m.

Ryan Jett, the brother of Robert Jett Jr., thanked the Oklahoma AG's office, prosecutors, and victim advocates for being by their side throughout the process.

"We waited a long time for justice to be served and today it was served," Robert Jett said.

A sister of James Lynch said she was grateful that justice was served "according to God's will" and that the 22-year nightmare can be laid to rest.

"I have prayed for his salvation nearly two decades and can only hope that he chose to get his soul right with God before his window of opportunity closed for eternity," Caroline Thomas wrote in a statement that was read at the press conference by a family member.

Hancock was the fourth Oklahoma inmate executed in 2023 and the 11th since the process resumed in 2021 after a nearly six-year moratorium was lifted. Oklahoma has executed more inmates per capita than any other state since the 1976 reinstatement of the death penalty.

The next execution scheduled in Oklahoma is James Ryder on Feb. 1, 2024. Ryder was sentenced to death for the 1999 killing of Daisy Hallum, 70, and to life without parole for killing her son, Sam Hallum, 38, in Pittsburg County.

A decision from the Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals on whether to allow a continuance of Ryder' competency trial to March 2024 is pending. The Oklahoma AG's office has requested another inmate who has exhausted all appeals to replace Ryder if OCCA allows the continuance to move forward.