Richard Glossip was granted bond Wednesday morning, with a judge setting it at $500,000 as he waits for a new trial in the death of motel owner Barry Van Treese. The ruling came after legal teams appeared in court Wednesday to argue that Glossip should be released while the case moves forward.
The decision marks a major turn for a man who has spent more than 20 years in prison after being convicted in Van Treese's killing. Last year, the Oklahoma Supreme Court vacated Glossip's previous conviction, clearing the way for a new proceeding and opening the question of whether he could be allowed out on bond before trial. For more on the earlier reversal, see Oklahoma judge sets $500,000 Bail for Richard Glossip after Supreme Court reversal.
Donald Knight, speaking for Glossip, said he had spent 29 years incarcerated for a crime he did not commit and had faced nine execution dates and eaten three last meals. Knight said the bond ruling rejected the state's claim that there was a strong case for guilt and gave Glossip, for the first time in nearly three decades, a chance to taste freedom while his defense continues to press for exoneration.
The bond order does not end the case. It does, however, change Glossip's position in it. Instead of facing another trial from behind bars, he now has a $500,000 path to release as the next phase of the case unfolds, a significant shift after years in which he was held under the weight of a conviction that the state's highest court has already set aside.
What happens next is straightforward: Glossip's release now depends on meeting the terms of the bond while the legal fight over his retrial continues in court.
