Appeals Court Denies Stay Of Execution For Oklahoma Inmates

The Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals has denied requests by two death row prisoners to stop their upcoming executions.

Lawyers for Clayton Lockett and Charles Warner asked for an emergency stay while the courts sorted out their lawsuit over what they claim is a veil of secrecy surrounding Oklahoma's execution protocol.

3/18/2014 Related Story: Oklahoma Court Resets Executions Amid Drug Search

Lockett is set to die Tuesday.

Warner's execution is set for a week later.

In its 3-2 decision, the appeals court says it disagreed with a state Supreme Court, which says the appellate court is the only one that may issue a stay.

Lockett was found guilty of the 1999 shooting death of a 19-year-old woman, Stephanie Nieman. Warner was convicted for the 1997 death of his roommate's 11-month-old daughter.