Confessed Oklahoma killer wants to invalidate plea agreement

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) – The Oklahoma Court of Civil Appeals says Oklahoma County District Court must allow a confessed killer an opportunity to respond to a motion to dismiss his lawsuit seeking to overturn his plea agreement.

The court on Wednesday reversed the dismissal of Stephen Craig Burnett’s lawsuit seeking to invalidate a 1994 plea agreement in which he was sentenced to life with the possibility of parole for killing his estranged wife in Tulsa. Burnett alleges changes in parole and pardon rules since 1994 is a breach of the agreement.

The district court ruled it doesn’t have jurisdiction. The appeals court noted the ruling came on the same day a motion from the state to dismiss the case was received and said Burnett must be given 20 days to respond to that motion.