By TopTrendReportTv
April 2, 2024
The Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals has declined an urgent request to halt the execution of Michael Dewayne Smith, with all judges in agreement. Smith, who was found guilty and given the death penalty for two separate murders in 2002, made his third and final appeal to delay his execution.
This plea follows previous denials by the OCCA and District Judge Heather Coyle’s rejection of Smith’s request for DNA testing two weeks ago. In their decision issued on Tuesday, the court stated that conducting further forensic tests would not cast doubt on Smith’s conviction.
Emphasizing Smith's detailed confession to the police, which was supported by two additional confessions and physical evidence from both crime scenes, the court highlighted the robustness of the evidence against him. Additionally, the court affirmed that Smith's motives for the murders, involving Janet Moore and Sharath Pulluru, were substantiated. Smith's execution is set to take place on April 4 at the Oklahoma State Penitentiary.
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