OK Court Of Criminal Appeals To Review Death Penalty Case

<p>The U.S. Supreme Court ordered&nbsp;a review of the death sentence given to Shaun Bosse.&nbsp;</p>

Tuesday, October 11th 2016, 10:36 pm

By: News 9


The U.S. Supreme Court ordered a review of the death sentence given to Shaun Bosse.

Bosse was convicted of three counts of first-degree murder in the 2010 killings of Katrina Griffin and her children, Christian and Chasity.

Katrina Griffin and 8-year-old Christian died in a knife attack. The youngest, 6-year-old Chasity Hammer, died of smoke inhalation when Bosse locked her in a closet and set the mobile home on fire.

"It was such a heinous crime what he did to them ... I truly believe it is an eye for an eye," said Ginger Griffin, Katrina's stepmother.

When asked by prosecutors what punishment Bosse deserved for the killings, Ginger Griffin, her husband, and Katrina's biological mother all said "death."

The jury delivered.

Now, the family is discouraged to learn that the high court ruled that it was an error for the jurors to hear the family's opinion on punishment.

SCOTUS ordered the Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals to review the case.

"If they had to lose all of their children and grandchildren to a heinous crime, like we did, I think they may feel differently," said Ginger Griffin.

She and her relative prepared for a long road to justice but says this is setback.

District Attorney Greg Mashburn is more optimistic.

"I hope the Court of Criminal Appeals looks at that and says that's error, but harmless error, given the weight of the evidence the jurors heard," Mashburn said.

Mashburn is hopeful the courts will find the death sentence is still appropriate.

Meanwhile, Mashburn said the SCOTUS decision will change how he handles victim impact statements.

He will no longer be asking victim's family's to weigh in on the punishment.

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