Oklahoma City – John Marion Grant, convicted of a murder that took place during his imprisonment at an Osage County facility, faced an October 28 execution date. Lawyers working on his behalf have filed a clemency petition with the state Pardon and Parole Board in Oklahoma City. Grant’s clemency hearing is scheduled for 9 a.m. on Tuesday, October 5.

Grant on November 13, 1998 killed Gay L. Carter at Connor Correctional Center. He was charged with First Degree (malice) murder. Evidence at trial indicated Grant and Carter had been lovers, but she had ended the relationship. He killed her, stabbing her repeatedly with a “shank.”

Assertions of poor representation by Grant’s trial counsel have been made by opponents of the death penalty.

His present attorney, Sarah Jernigan, said in a statement sent to CapitolBeatOK.com, “John Grant never had a chance in life due to the severe abuse he suffered first at the hands of his mother and later in state-run institutions in Oklahoma whose horrific mistreatments are a well-documented scandal. Yet he is deeply remorseful for his actions and has worked to redeem himself while incarcerated. We are hopeful that Oklahoma will give him a second chance by showing mercy, allowing him to live the remainder of his life in prison instead of being executed.”

In a clemency petition, his lawyers maintain Grant “has fervently wrestled with his own actions and failings since the time of [his] crime, seeking to understand and better himself more so than any other client I have represented.”

“John Grant is far from the worst of the worst,” said Jernigan.“He has taken full responsibility for his crime and has apologized to his victim’s family.”

Disclosure: A reporter and commentator with four decades of experience in journalism, Patrick B. McGuigan is also a dues-paying member of the Oklahoma Coalition Against the Death Penalty (OK-CADP).