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Appeals Court Denies Defense Request in Tulsa Case

Tulsa County Jail Booking photo

TULSA, Okla. (AP) — The Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals has denied a defense request seeking the recusal of a special judge overseeing a quadruple-killing case in Tulsa.

The appeals court ruled Tuesday that Special Judge Stephen Clark can handle the upcoming preliminary hearing for Cedric Poore and James Poore. The brothers are each charged with four counts of first-degree murder in the shooting deaths of four women in a Tulsa apartment.

Defense attorneys argued that Clark ordered a witness in the case to meet with district attorneys or face the risk of prosecution. The defense says such a directive made the witness believe she must "play ball" with the prosecutors or face the consequences.

On Tuesday, the appeals court rejected that argument.

A preliminary hearing is set for Monday in the case.