There has been increased scrutiny around questionable evidence gathered and racial bias against Jones, as well as questions about Jones’ alibi that he was home the night of the murder. “As more details come to light regarding his situation, I join with many voices to express sadness and profound concern regarding his conviction and death sentence.” “ conviction was tainted by a deeply flawed process,” Westbrook, the former face of the Oklahoma City Thunder and current Laker, wrote in his letter. Each letter highlights a critical issue that led to Jones’ conviction, racial bias, a flawed investigation, and an ill-equipped defense. NBA stars with Oklahoma ties like Russell Westbrook, Blake Griffin, Trae Young, and Buddy Hield have expressed support for Jones in addition to writing letters to the governor’s office. Warriors head coach Steve Kerr tweeted out a video in support of Jones. Since then, more than 6 million people have signed a petition asking Stitt to prevent Jones’ execution due to scrutiny surrounding his conviction. Jones served nearly 20 years on death row when his case gained renewed national attention in 2018, when an ABC documentary series, “The Last Defense,” spotlighted his case. The Howel family reject Jones’ innocence outright, and along with the state Attorney General’s Office, have disputed the evidence cited by Jones and his supporters. Jones has maintained his innocence from death row for more than two decades, saying he was framed by the actual killer, a high school friend, and a former co-defendant who was a key witness against him. As a result, the governor commuted Jones’ sentence with the condition that he “shall not be eligible to apply for or be considered for a commutation, pardon, or parole for the remainder of his life,” per the order. In his executive order, Stitt said neither state constitution nor state law gives the board the authority to recommend that commutation, nor do they give the governor the power to grant it. However, since Stitt decided to reject the state’s Pardon and Parole boards recommendation, Jones will likely never get out of prison.
The 3-1 board vote gave Jones’ family, and supporters hope he could be released with time served. The governor’s decision came just hours before Jones was scheduled to be executed at 4 p.m CT after years of protests and public pressure to commute his death sentence.Īccording to the Washington Post, the Oklahoma Pardon and Parole Board twice recommended Jones’ sentence be commuted to life in prison with the possibility of parole as recently as November 1.
Kevin Stitt granted Julius Jones clemency, commuting his death sentence Thursday to life in prison without the possibility of parole, according to an executive order filled the same day. He never got the chance, getting arrested three days after his 19th birthday, suspected and ultimately convicted in 2002 of first-degree murder for the killing of Edmond, Oklahoma businessman Paul Howell during a carjacking. "Kim Kardashian, I felt like may be one of my sorority sisters … she was down to earth," Davis-Jones said.In a past life, Julius Jones was a combo guard who turned down offers from small colleges to play basketball and football according to ESPN and chose to attend the University of Oklahoma on an academic scholarship to the school’s College of Engineering.Īfter completing his freshman year in 1998, he planned to walk on and join the basketball team in the fall of 1999.
JULIUS JONES OKLAHOMA BASKETBALL FREE
Kardashian, who is studying to take California's bar exam, has been vocal on the issue of the death penalty and prison reform and has campaigned to free a number of men and women who were incarcerated. In 2020, Jones' story was thrown back into the spotlight when unlikely legal ally Kim Kardashian drew public attention to his case. Jordan served 15 years in prison before he was released. Jones and denies 'confessing' to anyone."
JULIUS JONES OKLAHOMA BASKETBALL TRIAL
Jordan testified truthfully in the jury trial of Mr. In a statement to ABC News in September, Jordan's attorney, Billy Bock, said: "Chris Jordan maintains his position that his role in the death of Paul Howell was as an accomplice to Julius Jones. They said they allegedly heard Jordan confess to Howell's murder. Jones' team submitted files to the parole board that they said proved his innocence, including affidavits and taped video interviews with inmates who had served time in prison with Jordan. In the years since, Jones' defense team has argued that racial bias and missteps from his then-public defense team played a role.
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