Oklahoma Set to Execute a Man Who Didn't Kill Anyone

Last October, this blog featured the case of Tremane Wood. Wood was con­vict­ed and sen­tenced to death in Oklahoma County in 2004. Under Oklahoma's felony murder statue, Tremane was sen­tenced to death for the mur­der of Ronnie Wipf dur­ing the com­mis­sion of a rob­bery, a mur­der that his broth­er, Zjaiton ​“Jake” Wood, admit­ted com­mit­ting.

Jake Wood testified his brother was not involved in the murder. "Zjaiton testified for the defense, against the advice of counsel. He said that it was he who stabbed Wipf, aided in the crime by a man named Alex," the Court of Criminal Appeals noted in a 2007 opinion.

Jake Wood was sentenced to life, and has since passed away. His brother. who Jake said did not commit murder and who has maintained his innocence, has a potential execution date being set next week.

Oklahoma plans to execute a man for a murder he did not commit.

During the trial, Jake Wood as rep­re­sent­ed by a lit­i­ga­tion team that worked dili­gent­ly to secure a life sen­tence. Meanwhile, Tremane was appoint­ed John Albert, an over­worked attor­ney who was strug­gling with alco­hol and sub­stance use dis­or­ders while han­dling approx­i­mate­ly 100 cas­es. Albert rep­re­sent­ed two oth­er cap­i­tal defen­dants at the same time he rep­re­sent­ed Wood, and both have been grant­ed relief because Albert’s sub­stance use impaired his abil­i­ty to effec­tive­ly advo­cate.

Judge Ray Elliott, the judge who presided over Wood’s tri­al and his appeal regard­ing the inef­fec­tive assis­tance of coun­sel claim, has made trou­bling remarks about peo­ple of col­or that indicate a potential for racial bias.

Despite these concerns that should've led to a new trial, Oklahoma intends to kill Tremane Wood.

Felony Murder Elimination Project asks our supporters to take action and send a message to the Oklahoma Pardon and Parole Board and Governor Kevin Stitt that the state-sponsored execution of Tremane Wood does not provide a fair measure of justice for the crime.

Here are steps you can take through action and sharing on social media networks to amplify the efforts to save Tremane Wood from an irreversible miscarriage of justice.

1. View and share a clemency documentary from Doug Passon --->>> Wood Clemency (password: balance)
2. Sign the change.org petition --->>> STOP The Execution of Tremane Wood
3. Contact Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt and urge him to grant clemency to Tremane Wood.
4. Visit the Justice for Tremane Wood website to learn more about the case and efforts to save his life.

There is no reason for the state of Oklahoma to set an execution date for Tremane Wood next week. People who believe in a fair delivery of justice must make their outrage and conviction hear loud and clear.

Thank you all for the work and advocacy you do toward our shared goals of a fairer justice system. Lives have been saved through your voices representing the coalition of the good, and it's time to do so again.