DETAILS ON THIS CASE. COLBY MECCA PHILIP HANCOCK WAS CONVICTED FOR SHOOTING AND KILLING TWO MEN IN APRIL OF 2001. NOW THE PARDON AND PAROLE BOARD WILL HEAR HIS CASE AND MAKE A DECISION AND RECOMMENDATION TO GOVERNOR KEVIN STITT. THIS IS NOT A CASE WHERE WE’RE SAYING THIS IS SOME TECHNICALITY. AND I’M SAYING, OH, THEY DIDN’T READ HIM HIS RIGHTS OR SOME -- LIKE THAT. NO, THAT’S NOT WHAT HAPPENED HERE. THIS IS A TRAVESTY. IT’S A HUGE MISTAKE AND IT NEEDS TO BE CORRECTED. PHILIP HANCOCK’S ATTORNEY, SEAN NOLAN, SAYS HANCOCK ACTED IN SELF DEFENSE, DESCRIBING THE TWO ALLEGED VICTIMS AS DRUG DEALERS INTENT ON KILLING HANCOCK IN 2001. AND SO HE STRUGGLED WITH THESE MEN. HE GOT THE GUN AWAY AND HE SHOT THEM BOTH. WHAT WAS HE SUPPOSED TO DO? NOLAN SAYS HANCOCK IS ALIVE TODAY BECAUSE HE WRESTLED A GUN AWAY FROM ROBERT JETT BEFORE HE SHOT BOTH JETT AND JAMES LYNCH. THEY ALSO ASKED FOR A CLOSER LOOK AT DNA EVIDENCE. THEY BELIEVE COULD PROVE HE WAS ACTING IN SELF DEFENSE. IF THEY ARE SO SURE THAT PHIL IS GUILTY OF FIRST DEGREE MURDER AND SHOULD BE KILLED, THEN TEST TEST THE DNA. ATTORNEY GENERAL GENTNER DRUMMOND DISAGREES, SAYING NO AMOUNT OF DNA EVIDENCE CAN PROVE HANCOCK’S INDEFENSIBLE CLAIM OF SELF-DEFENSE. THE EVIDENCE IS CLEAR THAT HANCOCK MURDERED MR. JETT AND JAMES LYNCH. THE PARDON AND PAROLE BOARD IS EXPECTED TO MAKE THEIR RECOMMENDA
Clemency hearing scheduled for death row inmate Phillip Hancock, who claims he killed 2 men in self-defense
The Oklahoma Pardon and Parole Board will look at Phillip Hancock's case at 9 a.m. Wednesday,
Updated: 10:17 PM CST Nov 5, 2023
A clemency hearing for an Oklahoma death row inmate is scheduled for this week. The Oklahoma Pardon and Parole Board will look at Phillip Hancock's case at 9 a.m. Wednesday, and the board members will decide whether to recommend clemency to Gov. Kevin Stitt. Hancock was convicted of shooting and killing two men in April 2001. | MORE | Attorney for Oklahoma death row inmate claims DNA evidence would prove client's innocence“This is not a case where we're saying this is some technicality, and I'm saying, 'Oh, they didn't read him his rights' or some crap like that. That's not what happened here. This is a travesty. This is a huge mistake, and it has to be corrected," said Shawn Nolan, Hancock's attorney. Nolan said the death row inmate acted in self-defense, describing Robert Jett and James Lynch, the two men killed, as drug dealers whose intent was to kill Hancock. "He struggled with these men. He got the gun away, and he shot them both. What was he supposed to do?" said Nolan. The attorney said Hancock is alive today because he wrestled the gun away from Jett before he shot both Jett and Lynch. Nolan also asked for a closer look at DNA evidence that he believes could prove Hancock was acting in self-defense. "If they are so sure that Phil is guilty of first-degree murder and should be killed, then test the DNA or give it to us. Let us test the DNA," said Nolan. Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond disagreed, saying, "No amount of DNA evidence can prove Hancock's indefensible claim of self-defense. The evidence is clear that Hancock murdered Mr. Jett and James Lynch. After the Pardon and Parole Board makes its recommendation, the final decision will be up to the governor. Hancock's execution date is scheduled for Nov. 30. Top Headlines3 people killed in McCurtain County collision Saturday40 year later, former OU band members remember 'the day The Pride won Bedlam'Could lawmakers mandate a yearly Bedlam matchup? It isn't unheard of
OKLAHOMA CITY — A clemency hearing for an Oklahoma death row inmate is scheduled for this week.
The Oklahoma Pardon and Parole Board will look at Phillip Hancock's case at 9 a.m. Wednesday, and the board members will decide whether to recommend clemency to Gov. Kevin Stitt. Hancock was convicted of shooting and killing two men in April 2001.
| MORE | Attorney for Oklahoma death row inmate claims DNA evidence would prove client's innocence
“This is not a case where we're saying this is some technicality, and I'm saying, 'Oh, they didn't read him his rights' or some crap like that. That's not what happened here. This is a travesty. This is a huge mistake, and it has to be corrected," said Shawn Nolan, Hancock's attorney.
Nolan said the death row inmate acted in self-defense, describing Robert Jett and James Lynch, the two men killed, as drug dealers whose intent was to kill Hancock.
"He struggled with these men. He got the gun away, and he shot them both. What was he supposed to do?" said Nolan.
The attorney said Hancock is alive today because he wrestled the gun away from Jett before he shot both Jett and Lynch. Nolan also asked for a closer look at DNA evidence that he believes could prove Hancock was acting in self-defense.
"If they are so sure that Phil is guilty of first-degree murder and should be killed, then test the DNA or give it to us. Let us test the DNA," said Nolan.
Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond disagreed, saying, "No amount of DNA evidence can prove Hancock's indefensible claim of self-defense. The evidence is clear that Hancock murdered Mr. Jett and James Lynch.
After the Pardon and Parole Board makes its recommendation, the final decision will be up to the governor.
Hancock's execution date is scheduled for Nov. 30.
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