![]() ![]() The board was in favor of his sentence being commuted to life in prison with the possibility of parole. In an early November hearing, Oklahoma’s Pardon and Parole Board voted 3-1 to recommend clemency for Jones. Now 41, Jones has spent half his life in prison. Julius Jones forever changed our lives and the lives of his family and friends.” We take comfort that his decision affirmed the guilt of Julius Jones and that he shall not be eligible to apply for, or be considered for, a commutation, pardon or parole for the remainder of his life. In a statement Thursday, Howell's family said, “We know Governor Stitt had a difficult decision to make. As of Thursday, the site’s online petition had garnered more than 6 million signatures. Jones’ defense team maintained that it was planted and would have had Jones’ DNA on it as his DNA was present in his parents’ home.Īccording to CBS News, his family said that he did not match the description of the suspect described by the witness, and he was not allowed to testify in his trial.Ī website set up for Jones, Justice for Julius Jones, added that the case was filled with racial bias and errors, including a juror who used the N-word. ![]() Jones has insisted that he was framed and betrayed by his former friend and co-defendant in the case, Christopher Jordan, who testified against Jones and fingered him as the shooter.Ī witness to the shooting said the suspect was wearing a red bandana and, in the days after the killing, the murder weapon was found inside Jones’ parents’ home wrapped in a red bandana that had Jones’ DNA on it. He was 19 at the time of his trial for capital murder. Jones was convicted of the murder of 45-year-old Paul Howell, a wealthy white man, during an attempted carjacking in 1999. “.e are grateful that the governor has prevented an irreparable mistake.” “Governor Stitt took an important step today towards restoring public faith in the criminal justice system by ensuring that Oklahoma does not execute an innocent man,” she said. Jones’ attorney, Amanda Bass, celebrated the news but said they’d hoped Jones could have received the possibility of parole, as had been recommended by the state’s Pardon and Parole Board.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |