DEATH ROW PRISONER CONVICTED IN 1995 TULSA MURDER TO HAVE CLEMENCY HEARING

TULSA, Okla. –

A man set to be executed next month for murdering a Tulsa mother in 1995, will have his clemency hearing Wednesday.

Jemaine Cannon was convicted of beating and stabbing his girlfriend, Sharonda Clark. Cannon has always said it was in self-defense.

Cannon’s attorney, along with some lawmakers and the Oklahoma Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty, spoke on Tuesday to reporters about the case.

In 1991, Cannon was serving time in prison for assault, when he escaped while taking part in a prison work program.

Prosecutors said he went to his girlfriend’s apartment and stabbed her to death, near 41st and Sheridan. Cannon left the state and police ended up arresting him in Flint, Michigan.

He was convicted of Clark’s murder in 1996. Cannon’s attorney said Cannon was “denied his right to testify” during his trial.

“There’s a dispute as to who attacked whom first. There is evidence to support the idea that the decedent came after Mr. Cannon with a butcher knife. She got the worst of the exchange and died,” Mark Henricksen said.

In a statement, Tulsa County DA Steve Kunzweiler says in part, “…A judge and jury decided the death penalty was a fitting punishment for Cannon, a decision that should be respected. He exhausted all of his appeals and now must face the consequences of his actions. Sharonda Clark’s family deserves to see justice for their lost loved one.”

The pardon and parole board will vote on Wednesday whether to recommend Cannon get clemency.