Appeals court denies Oklahoma man's appeal in murder case

DENVER (AP) _ The 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals on Wednesday rejected the appeal of an Oklahoma man on death row for the slayings of four people in 1990. <br><br>Jerry Lynn McCracken argued that the

Thursday, October 11th 2001, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

DENVER (AP) _ The 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals on Wednesday rejected the appeal of an Oklahoma man on death row for the slayings of four people in 1990.

Jerry Lynn McCracken argued that the trial judge erred in his jury instructions and that his lawyer was ineffective because evidence on mental health issues was never presented.

McCracken had blamed co-defendant David Lawrence for the Oct. 14, 1990, shootings in a lounge in Tulsa, Okla., but was convicted of murder after Lawrence testified against him. In an interview with the Tulsa World this year, McCracken admitted to the crimes.

Lawrence also pleaded guilty and is serving four concurrent life sentences plus 20 years.

The two were convicted of the deaths of Steve Allen Smith, 34, Tyrell Lee Boyd, 27, Timothy Edward Sheets, 37, and Carole Ann McDaniels, 41, who were in the lounge.