![]() ![]() Jones’ defense team shared new evidence this past year, including a sworn affidavit from a man who said that Jordan, Jones’ codefendant, confessed to the murder. However, the results of the DNA profile showed the probability of the DNA belonging to someone other than Jones was one in 110 million African Americans. The bandana was tested in 2018 for DNA evidence after Jones’ defense attorneys claimed the evidence would prove that Jones was being framed. Julius Jones forever changed our lives and the lives of his family and friends.”Īnti-death penalty groups speak against executions on the eve of Julius Jones’ commutation hearing We would like to thank the countless people in the Oklahoma Attorney General’s office, the Oklahoma County District Attorney’s Office and law enforcement agencies across the state for their tireless efforts and unwavering support for the last 22 years. 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. “We know Governor Stitt had a difficult decision to make. The family of Paul Howell released the following statement regarding today’s commutation announcement: We recognize that the pain of losing a loved one never ends, and our hearts and prayers are with the Howell family.” Oklahoma Attorney General John O’Connor Our office will continue to work for justice and for the safety of all Oklahomans, including families like Paul Howell’s. However, we are greatly disappointed that after 22 years, four appeals, including the review of 13 appellate Judges, the work of the investigators, prosecutors, jurors, and the trial Judge have been set aside. A thorough review of the evidence confirms Julius Jones’ guilt in this case and that the death penalty was warranted. I appreciate the Governor’s condition that Mr. I know Governor Stitt is making what he believes is the right decision. “The Office of the Oklahoma Attorney General respects the statutory authority of the Governor to make this decision. Pursuant to that provision, the Governor has ordered that Jones shall not be eligible to apply for or be considered for a commutation, pardon, or parole for the remainder of his life. “After prayerful consideration and reviewing materials presented by all sides of this case, I have determined to commute Julius Jones’ sentence to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole,” said Gov. ![]() Jones pleaded not guilty to murdering Howell and has since maintained his innocence. Stitt’s commutations of Jones’ death sentence comes after several years of turmoil over Jones’ 2002 murder conviction. Kevin Stitt commuted Julius Jones’ death sentence to life in prison without parole as Jones’ execution for the 1999 murder of Paul Howell came within hours. He never got a say in this," she said.OKLAHOMA CITY ( KFOR) – Gov. "I want to be a voice for my dad because he was an innocent man taking his kids to get ice cream with my aunt, and he was murdered in front of me and my sister and my aunt all for a car. His daughter Rachel Howell told CBS News before the board made its clemency recommendation that there is an "overwhelming amount of evidence" pointing to Jones as the culprit. Howell's life," Jones told the parole board in a recent hearing. "I am not the person responsible for taking Mr. They also say he was home playing board games and eating spaghetti when Howell was murdered. Three days later, Jones was arrested - even as his family suggests he was framed, saying eyewitnesses' descriptions were wrong because he had a shaved head at the time. His SUV was stolen, and a witness reported seeing a Black man with a red bandana and 1 to 2 inches of hair shoot the father of two. Howell was murdered in front of his family outside his home. Thursday's motion argues that Oklahoma's execution protocol and the use of the sedative midazolam "pose a serious and substantial risk of suffering and pain to prisoners." It was Oklahoma's first execution in more than six years. John Marion Grant, who was executed on October 28 for murder, repeatedly vomited and convulsed before he was declared dead, according to eyewitnesses at the execution. They cited "important new evidence" about a recent "botched" execution in Oklahoma and said the court should make sure Jones is not executed before a trial on the constitutionality of the state's execution protocol is held in February. Jones' attorneys on Thursday made a last-ditch effort to spare his life by filing an emergency motion seeking an injunction against his execution. ![]()
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