Tulsa killer to be released from prison by the weekend

A man who killed a postal carrier four years ago will get out of prison by the weekend. That's outraged his victim's family, even though the killer is not entirely free. He's going to a halfway

Tuesday, October 11th 2005, 10:24 am

By: News On 6

A man who killed a postal carrier four years ago will get out of prison by the weekend. That's outraged his victim's family, even though the killer is not entirely free. He's going to a halfway house.

News on 6 reporter Emory Bryan says it was 3 years and 10 months ago when mailman Robert Jenkins was killed in the parking lot of the Place One Apartments in Tulsa. Jason Weed was arrested not far away and confessed. His erratic behavior led to a judgment he was temporarily insane - and now he's about to go partially free.

Robert Jenkins' widow Amber Jenkins: â€œIt was a slap in the face, it really was." The reason cited in court for the release included a recommendation by the prison doctor, and the fact Weed has had no problems in prison.

His lawyer called the shooting an "unexplainable episode of psychosis." The victimâ€™s mother would like to have seen Weed spend more time behind bars. Jeanne Been: "Less than four years in prison, not enough time."

The conditions of Weed's release include an indefinite stay in a halfway house; he can't visit Tulsa without permission from the court and he can have no contact with the victimâ€™s family.

The US attorney told the judge "If you're going to release a murderer, you ought to be certain it won't happen again." He called the psychiatrist report on Weed "soft science".

Even after what the family considers this heartbreaking decision, it won't be long until they're back in court again. In one year, Jason Weed will have another hearing to tell the court how he's doing in that halfway house.

The US Postal Service honored Robert Jenkins by renaming the Southside station in his honor. His wife wants something else - the legal system changed so murderers can't go free even if they are insane. Amber Jenkins: "We can't put him in jail so we slap them on the back and say don't do it again, that's an insult to my husbandâ€™s memory."

Jason Weed's release will happen within 72 hours, but he will go directly to a halfway house in an undisclosed location, outside Tulsa.