Oklahoma City murder trial continues

(Oklahoma City-AP) -- It could be difficult to persuade a jury to recommend the death penalty for accused killer Brenda Andrew, if jurors convict her of first-degree murder. <br/><br/>Legal experts say

Monday, July 5th 2004, 6:55 am

By: News On 6

(Oklahoma City-AP) -- It could be difficult to persuade a jury to recommend the death penalty for accused killer Brenda Andrew, if jurors convict her of first-degree murder.

Legal experts say prosecutors trying Andrew for the murder of her husband will have to battle social barriers to get a death sentence.

Andrew is on trial for Rob Andrew's death. Prosecutors say Brenda Andrew and her lover James Pavatt killed her husband to get his 800-thousand-dollar life insurance policy.

Pavatt has been convicted and sentenced to death for the November 2001 murder.

Andrew has said masked men entered her home and shot Rob Andrew.

University of Oklahoma College of Law Dean Andy Coats says juries often give women long prison sentences, but rarely the death penalty.

Since statehood, Oklahoma has only put three women to death. The most notable was the execution of Wanda Jean Allen in 2001. Later that year, two more women were put to death.

Oklahoma City attorney J.W. Coyle the Third says the fact that Andrew has two children may keep her off death row if she's convicted.

He says the jury could consider the fact that Andrew's children would be without both parents.