LATEST IN A 2 TO 1 DECISION. THE 10TH U.S. CIRCUIT COURT OF APPEALS UPHELD THE DECISION TO EXECUTE BRENDA ANDREW, A FORMER SUNDAY SCHOOL TEACHER IN OKLAHOMA CITY, CONVICTED OF WORKING WITH HER LOVER, JAMES PIVOT TO PLOT AND KILL HER ESTRANGED HUSBAND, ROB ANDREW, FOR HIS LIFE INSURANCE POLICY IN 2001. COURT DOCUMENTS SHOW PURVI AND ANDREW MET AT SUNDAY’S SCHOOL. HE WAS AN INSURANCE SALESMAN AND FRIEND OF ROB’S HELPING HIM SET UP HIS LIFE INSURANCE POLICY. WORTH $800,000 IN 2001. THE ANDREW’S FILED FOR DIVORCE THAT NOVEMBER. DOCUMENTS CLAIM ROB WENT TO PICK UP HIS KIDS FOR THANKSGIVING WHEN HE WAS SHOT AND KILLED IN THE GARAGE. ANDREW CLAIMED TWO ARMED MASKED MEN GUNNED DOWN ROB, EVEN GRAZING HER ARM. ANDREW AND THEN FLEE TO MEXICO WITH HER KIDS BEFORE BEING ARRESTED AT THE BORDER. TUESDAY AT A FEDERAL APPEALS COURT IN DENVER, JUDGES UPHELD HER RULING DESPITE HER DEFENSE CLAIMING AN UNFAIR TRIAL, NOTING THE PROSECUTION’S USE OF GENDER STEREOTYPES AND IRRELEVANT INFORMATION ABOUT ANDREW’S SEX LIFE. THE ONE DISSENTING JUDGE AGREED, SAYING THE STATE PORTRAYED ANDREW AS A SCARLET WOMAN AND PLUCKED AWAY ANY REALISTIC CHANCE THE JURY WOULD CONSIDER HER VERSION OF EVENTS. WHILE THE TWO JUDGES WERE CONCERNED WITH THE SEXUALIZING EVIDENCE, THEY SAID ANDREW’S TRIAL WAS NOT PERFECT, BUT IT WAS FUNDAMENTALLY FAIR. ANDREW’S TEAM SAYS THEY WILL FIGHT FOR A NEW TRIAL, WHICH WI
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Only woman on Oklahoma’s death row loses another fight in court
Brenda Andrew faced a federal appeals court on Tuesday in Denver for the murder of her estranged husband in 2001.
The only woman on Oklahoma’s death row lost another fight in court.Brenda Andrew faced a federal appeals court on Tuesday in Denver for the murder of her estranged husband in 2001. In the majority, judges upheld her death sentence.In a 2-1 decision, the 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals upheld the decision to execute Andrew. She was a former Sunday school teacher in Oklahoma City, convicted of working with her lover, James Pavatt, to plot and kill her estranged husband, Rob Andrew, for his life insurance policy in 2001.Court documents show Pavatt and Andrew met at Sunday school. He was an insurance salesman and friend of Rob’s, helping him set up his life insurance policy worth $800,000.In 2001, the Andrews’ filed for divorce. That November, documents claimed Rob went to pick up his children for Thanksgiving when he was shot and killed in the garage.Andrew claimed two armed, masked men gunned down Rob, even grazing her arm. Andrew and Pavatt then fled to Mexico with her children before being arrested at the border.Tuesday, at a federal appeals court in Denver, judges upheld her ruling, despite her defense claiming an unfair trial, noting the prosecution’s use of “gender stereotypes and irrelevant information about Andrew’s sex life.”The one dissenting judge agreed, saying the state portrayed Andrew as a "scarlet woman" and “plucked away any realistic chance the jury would consider her version of events.”While the two judges were concerned with the sexualizing evidence, they said Andrew’s trial may not have been perfect, but it was fundamentally fair.Andrew’s team said they’ll fight for a new trial which will have to come from the U.S. Supreme Court.Top HeadlinesCash donations gone after mobile delivery driver makes swipe at Choctaw restaurantOne of nation’s largest food distributors shuts down system, impacting Oklahoma restaurantsKingston residents, church still rebuilding one year after tornado hitOKC Broadway announces lineup for 2023-24 seasonOklahoma Supreme Court says women have right to abortion if their life is at riskNative Oklahoman recognized at White House for work in education
OKLAHOMA CITY —
The only woman on Oklahoma’s death row lost another fight in court.
Brenda Andrew faced a federal appeals court on Tuesday in Denver for the murder of her estranged husband in 2001. In the majority, judges upheld her death sentence.
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In a 2-1 decision, the 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals upheld the decision to execute Andrew. She was a former Sunday school teacher in Oklahoma City, convicted of working with her lover, James Pavatt, to plot and kill her estranged husband, Rob Andrew, for his life insurance policy in 2001.
Court documents show Pavatt and Andrew met at Sunday school. He was an insurance salesman and friend of Rob’s, helping him set up his life insurance policy worth $800,000.
In 2001, the Andrews’ filed for divorce. That November, documents claimed Rob went to pick up his children for Thanksgiving when he was shot and killed in the garage.
Andrew claimed two armed, masked men gunned down Rob, even grazing her arm. Andrew and Pavatt then fled to Mexico with her children before being arrested at the border.
Tuesday, at a federal appeals court in Denver, judges upheld her ruling, despite her defense claiming an unfair trial, noting the prosecution’s use of “gender stereotypes and irrelevant information about Andrew’s sex life.”
The one dissenting judge agreed, saying the state portrayed Andrew as a "scarlet woman" and “plucked away any realistic chance the jury would consider her version of events.”
While the two judges were concerned with the sexualizing evidence, they said Andrew’s trial may not have been perfect, but it was fundamentally fair.
Andrew’s team said they’ll fight for a new trial which will have to come from the U.S. Supreme Court.
Top Headlines
- Cash donations gone after mobile delivery driver makes swipe at Choctaw restaurant
- One of nation’s largest food distributors shuts down system, impacting Oklahoma restaurants
- Kingston residents, church still rebuilding one year after tornado hit
- OKC Broadway announces lineup for 2023-24 season
- Oklahoma Supreme Court says women have right to abortion if their life is at risk
- Native Oklahoman recognized at White House for work in education
