Oklahoma City (AP) — Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt commuted the death sentence of convicted prisoner Julius Jones on Thursday, the scheduled execution date. Jones has declared innocence from a condemned cell for over 20 years when he killed a businessman on the outskirts of Oklahoma City in 1999.
Stitt commuted Jones’ death sentence to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole. He was scheduled to be executed on Thursday.
The State Amnesty and Parole Commission voted 3-1 on November 1st, stating that Stitt sentenced Jones to life imprisonment, and some members of the panel questioned evidence that led to Jones’ conviction. I agreed.
Jones, 41, was convicted of a single murder and sentenced to death in 1999 for being shot dead during a carjacking by Edmond businessman Paul Howell.
The Jones case received widespread attention after being featured in the three-episode documentary “The Last Defense,” produced by actress Viola Davis, which aired on ABC in 2018. NBA stars Russell Westbrook, Blake Griffin, and Trae Young have sentenced Jones to death and urged Stitt to save his life.
Jones claims he was surrounded by a real murderer, a high school friend, and a former co-defendant who was an important witness to him. However, Oklahoma County District Attorney David Prater and former state Attorney Mike Hunter said the evidence for Jones was overwhelming.
Information from trial records indicate that witnesses identified Jones as a shooter and placed him in Howell’s stolen vehicle. Investigators also found a bandana-wrapped murder weapon with Jones DNA in the attic above his bedroom. Jones claimed in his commutation declaration that the gun and bandana were planted there by the actual murderer who was inside Jones’ house after the killing.
Howell’s sister, Megan Toby, and her two young daughters were in Howell’s SUV when a carjacking happened on their parents’ driveway in Edmond, a suburb of Oklahoma City. Toby testified before the board that he clearly remembers seeing Jones shoot his brother.
“He’s the same person as 22 years ago. He’s still having problems. He’s still a gangster. He’s still lying. And he’s still shameful, guilty, about his actions. Or I don’t feel regret, “Toby said. “We need Julius Jones to be held accountable.”
Governor of Oklahoma sentenced Julius Jones to death
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