Court orders new trial in man’s stabbing death
NORMAN — An Oklahoma City woman convicted of first-degree murder in Cleveland County has been granted a new trial.
The state Court of Criminal Appeals ruled Tuesday that convictions on kidnapping and burglary should stand against Loretta Hawks but that errors were made in her prosecution for murder in the death of Arthur Strozewski.
Hawks, 37, of Oklahoma City, was convicted in 2014 of acting in concert with two men in the stabbing death of Strozewski. In Hawks’ trial, testimony indicated she had lived with Strozewski at his residence at 9305 Winston Way. However, Strozewski had kicked her out of the house earlier on the day he was killed, according to testimony.
Prosecutors say she returned later that evening with Eddie Thompson and Sebastian Shepherd. Thompson and Shepherd were convicted of breaking into the home, tying up Strozewski’s son with duct tape and stabbing Strozewski.
The appeals court ruled that prosecutors failed to show that Hawks intended and encouraged the crime of murder.
“It is clear from the record that prosecutors misunderstood the basic law of aiding and abetting, and continually communicated that misunderstanding to the judge and jury,” the appeals court ruling states.
The higher court has ordered Hawks case remanded for a new trial on the murder count. She is serving 15-year prison sentences on the burglary and kidnapping counts, and those convictions will stand, the court ruled.
Thompson and Shepherd were both convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to life in prison without parole.