State prison inmate convicted of murder in cellmate's death

McALESTER, Okla. (AP) -- A Pittsburg County jury has convicted a state prison inmate of first-degree murder in the death of his cellmate.<br/><br/>Darrell Wayne Hogan was convicted of using a laundry bag's

Wednesday, December 8th 2004, 1:06 pm

By: News On 6

McALESTER, Okla. (AP) -- A Pittsburg County jury has convicted a state prison inmate of first-degree murder in the death of his cellmate.

Darrell Wayne Hogan was convicted of using a laundry bag's drawstring to strangle James Wise in February.

Wise died in an Oklahoma City hospital about three weeks later of an infection caused by a lack of oxygen to the brain.

The jury then recommended Hogan be sentenced to life without parole.

Hogan's attorney said Hogan choked Wise after Wise threatened him with a knife. Defense attorney Jeff Contreras says Hogan didn't intend to kill Wise, but wanted to choke him into unconsciousness, then ask to be moved to another cell.