The Kansas Supreme Court unanimously overturned the death sentence and ordered a new trial for Scott Cheever today.
The death of Sheriff Matthew Samuels was a tragic loss for his family, Greenwood County and the Kansas law enforcement community. Our thoughts and prayers are with the many Kansans whose lives are impacted by this decision today.
This action by the court marks the fourth death sentence to be overturned in the mandatory appeals process due to errors made during the trials.
“The Kansas Supreme Court has now overturned every death sentence in the four cases that have made it to this stage of the appeals process,” said Donna Schneweis, the Board Chair of the Kansas Coalition Against the Death Penalty.
“In a death penalty trial, even a small mistake can mean the difference between life and death,” said Schneweis. “This case is another example of just how flawed the Kansas death penalty is. We can’t eliminate the possibility of error. It’s time for Kansas to replace the death penalty with life without the possibility of parole.”