Sequoyah County Judge To Change Murder Convictions During Public Hearing

Wednesday, January 31st 2007, 8:33 am

By: News On 6

SALLISAW, Okla. (AP) -- A hearing is Thursday in Sequoyah County District Court where a man's first-degree murder convictions and life sentence will be changed to not guilty by reason of insanity.

The hearing for Daniel Hawke Fears comes after the state Court of Criminal Appeals overturned Fears' convictions in connection with a shooting spree in which he killed two people and wounded eight in October 2002.

Fears is to transferred from prison to a mental health hospital and attorney Rob Nigh says he's asking that Fears be sent to Griffin Memorial Hospital in Norman.

The appeals court ruling requires Fears to remain in treatment until a judge and a group of experts believe he's no longer a threat to the public. He could spend the rest of his life in treatment, or he could be freed if he's considered cured.