Clear & Convincing - Episode 30 - State of Tennessee v. Philip Ray Workman

On August 5, 1981, Lt. Ronald Dean Oliver was shot and killed after an armed robbery at a Wendy’s restaurant in Memphis, Tennessee.  Lt. Oliver and Patrolman Aubrey Stoddard tried to apprehend the robbery suspect, Philip Ray Workman, he fought them.  During the struggle, Workman shot Officer Stoddard in the arm and Lt. Oliver in the chest.  Officer Stoddard recovered and Lt. Oliver died at the hospital.  Workman fled and an hour later was apprehended with the assistance of a Memphis Police K-9.  Workman admitted that he was high on cocaine and pills at the time of the robbery and claimed his weapon accidentally discharged after he was hit in the head by officers.  At trial, Workman admitted to firing his weapon while it was aimed at officers.  He was convicted in 1982 and sentenced to death.  During post-conviction litigation, Workman and his advocates claimed that a “key witness” lied at the trial and that Lt. Oliver’s death was the result of “friendly fire,” initially from Officer Stoddard, Officer Steven Parker or an unidentified Memphis Police officer at the scene.  They further claimed that the alleged false testimony and “scientific evidence” exonerated Workman of felony murder, entitling him to a new trial, or commutation of his death sentence.  After several unsuccessful collateral attacks on the verdict and sentence, Workman was executed on May 9, 2007 by the State of Tennessee.  We’ll talk about the evidence against Workman, his direct appeal and post-conviction claims and the controversy that arose after Dr. O.C. Smith, the Shelby County Medical Examiner, was charged with staging an attack on himself in 2002.  We’re a live show and calls are always welcome at (347) 989-1171.