Newly uncovered letter casts doubt over sole testimony in Oklahoma death row

Self-confessed murderer Justin Sneed gave the only evidence in Richard Glossip's case, later writing somethings I need to clean up'

A handwritten letter has come to light casting doubt on the critical testimony of a self-confessed murderer who provided the only implicating evidence at the trial of Richard Glossip, a death row inmate in Oklahoma who is to be executed in six weeks' time.

The letter was written in 2007 by Justin Sneed, a motel handyman who by his own admittance bludgeoned to death Barry Van Treese, the owner of a Best Budget, a decade earlier. Sneed's testimony that Glossip, the manager of the motel, had put him up to the murder with a promise of $10,000 was central to the state's case - with no other forensic or corroborating evidence to back it up.