Oklahoma City man given life in prison after death sentence is overturned

Oklahoma City man, Victor W. Hooks, 51, was convicted in 1989 of killing his common-law wife, who was six months pregnant; the appeals court overturned the original punishment
by Tim Willert Published: February 22, 2013

A man sentenced to death for murdering his pregnant wife will spend the rest of his life in prison instead, a judge ruled Thursday.

Victor Wayne Hooks, 51, was convicted of first-degree murder in May 1989 for killing Shalimein Blaine, 21, at their Oklahoma City apartment in October 1988.

He was sentenced to die, but a federal appeals court overturned the punishment in August.

On Thursday, Oklahoma County District Judge Jerry D. Bass sentenced Hooks to life in prison without the possibility of parole for Blaine's death plus an additional 500 years behind bars for the death of the woman's unborn child.

The sentences were ordered to be served consecutively. Hooks originally received the 500-year sentence for his conviction on a first-degree manslaughter charge in the case.

Prosecutors and public defenders representing Hooks agreed on the sentence, saying the victim's mother and daughter did not want him to die. Hooks is the girl's father.

“I thought the death penalty was appropriate in this case and remains appropriate in this case,” First Assistant District Attorney Scott Rowland said outside court.

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by Tim Willert
Education Reporter
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