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December 19, 2012

Man sentenced to death for killings

The Associated Press Associated Press

OKLAHOMA CITY — A Blanchard man was sentenced to death Tuesday for the killings of a Dibble woman and her two children.

McClain County District Judge Greg Dixon followed the jury’s sentencing recommendations for Shaun Michael Bosse, who was convicted Oct. 29 on three counts of first-degree murder and one count of first-degree arson for the July 23, 2010, deaths of 25-year-old Katrina Griffin, 8-year-old Christian Griffin and 6-year-old Chasity Hammer.

Dixon sentenced Bosse, 30, to death on each of the murder counts, plus an additional 35 years in prison and a $25,000 fine on the arson charge, the maximum penalty, Assistant District Attorney Lori Puckett said.

Bosse’s execution is scheduled for Feb. 28, but Puckett said that date will be postponed during an automatic round of appeals for the conviction and sentences.

Bosse, who did not testify in his own defense during his trial, said nothing before the sentences were handed down, Puckett said. Members of the victims’ family attended the sentencing hearing, she said.

Meanwhile, Bosse’s defense attorney, Gary Henry of the Oklahoma Indigent Defense System, said Bosse is hopeful he’ll successfully appeal his convictions and sentences.

“His spirits are good. He is actually pretty positive,” Henry said. “He’s hopeful that something comes from that.”

Henry said Bosse’s first round of appeals was filed immediately after Tuesday’s sentencing hearing.

The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner ruled that Griffin died from multiple sharp force trauma, while Christian died from multiple stab wounds. The medical examiner report says Chasity died from smoke inhalation and burns in the fire. Prosecutors said Chastity was thrown into a closet and a chair was used to block the door.

Prosecutors said DNA evidence showed the victims’ blood was on Bosse’s clothing. Scratches on his knuckles and arm and pawn tickets in his wallet indicated he hocked some of the nearly 140 items taken from the family’s home, according to prosecutors.

Henry argued there was no evidence Bosse committed the crimes.

Witnesses testified that a McClain County deputy visited the victims’ mobile home shortly before midnight the day before they died and that Bosse was there. But Henry said Bosse was observed in Oklahoma City the following morning and had been there for several hours when smoke was reported to be rising from the burning mobile home.

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