Richard Glossip’s Pastor Speaks About AG’s Request To Vacate Conviction

Richard Glossip's pastor said Glossip and his wife were shocked to learn the attorney general was requesting Glossip get a new trial.

Two previous juries convicted Glossip of murder, but his pastor said this will be a chance for a new jury to hear the full story.

Glossip has been on death row for 25 years and after watching Rev. David Wiggs on TV, Glossip wrote him.

Click here for our coverage on Glossip's case.

"I just think the whole gospel story of Jesus' last week gives us a lot to ponder in light of something like the Glossip case," said Rev. David Wiggs, Senior Pastor for Boston Avenue United Methodist Church.

Rev. Wiggs said the Attorney General's request to vacate Glossip's murder conviction and death sentence came as a shock to the Glossip family.

"They're ecstatic. They feel like this is a really positive step. Rich has maintained his innocence since the beginning," said Rev. Wiggs.

Prosecutors said Justin Sneed confessed to beating Van Treese to death in an Oklahoma City motel room after saying Glossip hired him to do it.

However, court documents said Sneed misled the jury about his psychiatric treatment and the reasons for his lithium prescription.

Documents also said there were several mistakes made during the trial, including destruction of evidence.

"Their goal is not to get a conviction, their goal is to find the justice in this, so I love that he said that and he's really working toward that," said Rev. Wiggs.

Barry Van Treese's wife has told us in the past that there is no closure when a loved one is murdered.

"Every member of my family, every member of Barry's family, we live this on a daily basis," said Mrs. Van Treese.

Wiggs said innocent or guilty, he doesn't believe capital punishment is ever the answer.

"We're not against safety of society. We're not against security. We're not against the justice system. We're not against law enforcement. But we think putting ourselves in a position when we know that we're fallible to put ourselves in a place where it's alright for me to decide whether or not you live or die, we just think that's a mistake in terms of what role humans should play in each other's lives," said Rev. Wiggs.

But the victim's brother has said in the past he believes Glossip is guilty and stands by the sentence.

"You live with the consequences of your actions and the death penalty in Oklahoma is the consequences of taking somebody else's life or causing someone else to take someone else's life. That's the law," said Van Treese's brother.

Stay tuned for updates when the court of criminal appeals rules on the AG's request.