Oklahoma Murder Conviction Reversed Due to Sexual Relationship Between Judge, Prosecutor

Oklahoma Murder Conviction Reversed Due to Sexual Relationship Between Judge, Prosecutor
Judge Timothy Henderson listens to testimony during the sentencing of Daniel Holtzclaw in Oklahoma City on Jan. 21, 2016. Sue Ogrocki/AP Photo
The Associated Press
Updated:
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OKLAHOMA CITY—An Oklahoma appeals court on Thursday threw out a first-degree murder conviction because of a sexual relationship between the judge and a prosecutor in the case.

In a 3–2 decision, the Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals ordered a new trial for defendant Robert Leon Hashagen III, who was sentenced to life in prison after being convicted of first-degree murder in 2021. Mr. Hashagen’s attorneys later appealed after new evidence emerged of an undisclosed sexual relationship between the trial court judge, Timothy Henderson, and one of the prosecutors in the case.