PAROLE board denies clemency for female death row inmate set to die next month

<br>OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) _ The Oklahoma Pardon and Parole Board denied clemency Wednesday for a woman sentenced to die for a Sequoyah County killing nearly 20 years ago. <br><br>The board voted 3-2 against

Thursday, November 8th 2001, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) _ The Oklahoma Pardon and Parole Board denied clemency Wednesday for a woman sentenced to die for a Sequoyah County killing nearly 20 years ago.

The board voted 3-2 against commuting the sentence of Lois Nadean Smith, 61.

Smith is scheduled to die Dec. 4 for killing Cindy Baillee. Prosecutors say Smith killed Baillee by choking her, stabbing her in the throat and shooting her numerous times on July 4, 1982. She also jumped up and down on Baillee's throat, records show.

Board members Flint Breckinridge, Currie Ballard and Stephanie Chappelle voted against clemency, while Susan Bussey and Pat Morgan voted in favor of clemency for Smith, the last woman on death row in Oklahoma.

Smith's attorneys say she suffered from a head injury, was trying to protect her son and was under the influence of alcohol and drugs during the crime.

Assistant Attorney General Jennifer Miller said Smith was able to hold down a job and during her trial denied using drugs or alcohol in an effort to avoid embarrassing herself in front of her parents.

Miller said Smith's mean streak earned her the nickname ``Mean Nadean.''

If put to death at the Oklahoma State Penitentiary in McAlester next month, Smith would be the 17th person executed in Oklahoma this year.

Those 17 include the first two women executed since Oklahoma became a state in 1907.