Family Appeals To Oklahoma Governor To Delay Execution

Family members of Oklahoma death row inmate Timothy Shaun Stemple are appealing to Governor Mary Fallin to delay his March 15 execution so a forensic animation specialist can present evidence he claims conflicts with the state's account of how Stemple's wife was killed.

The 46-year-old Stemple was convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to death for the 1996 murder of his wife, 30-year-old Trisha Stemple. Prosecutors say Timothy Stemple beat her with a baseball bat then ran her over with his pickup truck along U.S. Highway 75 in Tulsa with the help of the 16-year-old cousin of his mistress. Stemple says he is innocent.

Janae Smucker, Stemple's sister, says the family will hold a news conference in Tulsa Thursday afternoon. The forensic animation specialist, Andre Stuart, will discuss the case.