Court orders resentencing for man accused in deaths of Edmond residents
By Associated Press on Sep 17, 2013, at 9:01 AM
A federal appeals court has ordered an Oklahoma man to be resentenced for a 1994 double slaying after it found that a lower court mistakenly allowed seven relatives of the victims to recommend the death penalty during sentencing.
The 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals on Monday ordered a resentencing for Rocky Dodd, who received two death sentences after he was convicted on two counts of first-degree murder for the deaths of Shane McInturff and Keri Sloniker of Edmond.
The Denver-based appeals court agreed with Dodd's defense team, which argued that it was unconstitutional for the victims' relatives to recommend the death penalty during sentencing.
Dodd's first convictions were previously set aside on appeal, but he was retried, convicted and sentenced to death again in state court.
