Oklahoma man charged in father’s stabbing beaten by inmates

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) – The Oklahoma County Sheriff’s Office says two county jail inmates are suspected of beating a man accused of fatally stabbing his father, the former Oklahoma labor commissioner.

A spokesman says authorities plan to file charges against the inmates, who have not been identified.

The inmates are accused of assaulting 27-year-old Christian Costello, who is awaiting trial after pleading not guilty to first-degree murder in the August stabbing death of former Labor Commissioner Mark Costello.

Sheriff’s office spokesman Mark Opgrande said Tuesday officials believe the inmates had jammed the locks on their cell doors, then beat Costello after he exited his own cell for recreation time. Opgrande says no weapons were used and Costello was alert when authorities arrived.

Costello’s family has said he has a mental illness that requires medication.