Thought provoking and a damning indictment of the US Justice System.
This a book that works on many levels – it is first a foremost the story of Richard Glossip who has been sentenced to death for allegedly arranging the murder of his then boss. This is interesting in itself as it was accepted that he had no role in the actual murder and the person that committed the murder is now serving a life sentence without parole due to his having provided evidence against Glossip. This raises the issue of how the US Justice System operates in such circumstances and also the role that circumstantial evidence has in this. Added to this is the fact that juries in such cases in Oklahoma have to be death qualified – that is they must be willing to consider the death sentence when reaching their conclusions. The fairness of this system is questioned throughout the book as is the fact that the story provided by the murderer has changed over time. This is despite the first verdict being overturned and a retrial ordered with the same verdict being returned.
At another level the book deals with the actual practicalities of enforcing a death sentence and whether the death sentence should be abolished or at the very least restricted in its use. The role that the use of certain drugs play in executions is debated in terms of whether they actually cause pain during the execution process and the fact that pharmaceutical companies do not want their products used in this way.
At a more human level there is the story of Glossip and how he has come to have spent over fifteen years in prison and come close to execution on two occasions. There is also the friendship that Woods has developed with Glossip and Woods’ attempts to make sure that his reporting of Glossip’s case has been objective.
All in all this is a book that should be read by all no matter your views on Glossip’s guilt or innocence or your views on capital punishment.
At another level the book deals with the actual practicalities of enforcing a death sentence and whether the death sentence should be abolished or at the very least restricted in its use. The role that the use of certain drugs play in executions is debated in terms of whether they actually cause pain during the execution process and the fact that pharmaceutical companies do not want their products used in this way.
At a more human level there is the story of Glossip and how he has come to have spent over fifteen years in prison and come close to execution on two occasions. There is also the friendship that Woods has developed with Glossip and Woods’ attempts to make sure that his reporting of Glossip’s case has been objective.
All in all this is a book that should be read by all no matter your views on Glossip’s guilt or innocence or your views on capital punishment.