Clemency Recommended For Death Row Inmate Phillip Hancock

Clemency has been recommended in a 3-2 vote for Oklahoma death row inmate Phillip Hancock

Hancock and his lawyers went before the Pardon and Parole Board this morning to ask for his execution sentence to be pardoned.

He was set to be executed on November 30 for murdering two Oklahoma City men, Bob Jett and James Lynch, in 2001.

Hancock’s lawyers, alongside a few state lawmakers, presented what they called new evidence at today’s hearing in what they say supports his claim of self-defense.

They submitted a declaration from Hancock’s girlfriend at the time, Katherine Quick, who admitted that she had arranged with Jett to lure Hancock to his house to be “taken care of” because she was angry that Hancock disapproved of her drug use, according to a statement from Hancock’s attorney, Shawn Nolan. 

In the declaration, Quick said, “I should never have asked Bob to take care of Phil for

me. I didn't mean to put Phil's life in danger, but I did. I wanted Bob to scare Phil, but I

wasn't considering how volatile Bob could be.” 

She went on to say that she did not share this information until now because she was not mentally or emotionally capable of talking about it. 

“I didn't tell Phil's trial team because I was in denial about my role in all of it all,” Quick said. 

Hancock’s petition was also supported by a declaration of jury foreperson who says the jury should have heard evidence of Jett and Lynch’s gang status and violent reputations, according to a press release. 

The Board’s recommendation will now go to Governor Kevin Stitt for a final clemency decision.