Death row inmate to ask parole board for clemency after Tonkawa death

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) – A convicted killer is scheduled to ask the Oklahoma Pardon and Parole board to commute his death sentence to life in prison.

Clayton Lockett is to appear via video before the board on Friday and ask for clemency.

The 38-year-old Lockett is scheduled to be put to death March 20 for the 1999 death of 19-year-old Stephanie Nieman near Tonkawa. Authorities say Lockett shot Nieman twice then watched as she was buried alive.

Two co-defendants are serving life in prison for the crime.

Lockett is also one of two inmates suing the state of Oklahoma for a temporary restraining order to stop his execution until the origins of the execution drugs to be used in his execution are released by the Department of Corrections.