JULIUS JONES TRIAL

On September 13, the board voted 3 to 1 to recommend commutation of his sentence. Jones had two hearings this year before the Pardon and Parole Board.

JULIUS JONES TRIAL

If some new evidence were to come to light in Jones’ case that has not yet been presented in court, there is a possibility that it could lead to a new trial and possible exoneration, although as the case has been litigated for 20 years, that is highly unlikely but not out of the question. “At that point, it will go to the state court system and probably end up at the Oklahoma Supreme Court for them to make the decision as to whether or not that executive order can prevent future governors from granting a pardon to Mr. “At that point, I’m sure the Attorney General’s Office will file an injunction or file a request for an injunction saying that that is barred because of Governor Stitt’s executive order that he signed today,” Blau said. If granted a hearing, which would be a long process and something not guaranteed, and a majority of the Pardon and Parole Board voted to recommend a pardon for Jones, a future governor would then have to accept the recommendation that Jones to be released. “And because Jones has already received a commutation, he can’t request another one.”īlau said, “I think it’s an open question as to whether or not a governor can tie the hands of future governors in whether or not somebody can be given a pardon.” Blau said Jones could apply for a pardon after Stitt is out of office. “Now that the governor has commuted his death sentence to life without parole, there is absolutely nothing that could ever put him back on death row again,” he said. Oklahoma City criminal defense attorney Ed Blau spoke to the local NBC affiliate about the legal options now open to Jones. The defense at trial did not present evidence of Jones’ alibi, that family members said he was at home at the time of the shooting. His defense says a murder weapon and bandanna linked to the crime was likely planted by Jordan when he visited the Joneses’ home. Jones says his co-defendant, Christopher Jordan, shot and killed Howell and pinned the murder on him. Jones’ clemency petition said that he has been on death row because of “fundamental breakdowns in the system tasked with deciding” his guilt, including ineffective and inexperienced defense attorneys, racial bias among his jury and alleged prosecutorial misconduct. Jones was convicted and sentenced to death in 2002 for the 1999 murder of businessman Paul Howell during a carjacking.

Six million people signed a petition calling on Stitt to stop the execution.

Julius Jones.”Īctress Viola Davis produced a three-part documentary series, “ The Last Defense,” profiling the Jones case and exposing the mountain of evidence that points to his innocence. Stavros Lambrinidis, the EU ambassador to the US, wrote to the governor, “We respectfully urge you to exercise all powers vested in your office to grant clemency to Mr. Cleveland Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield, who played football at the University of Oklahoma, teared up speaking about the case at a press conference Wednesday. Those who spoke out against Jones’ possible execution included celebrities Kim Kardashian, Kerry Washington and Mandy Patinkin. Supporters gathered near the governor’s mansion this week, including students who walked out of class at Oklahoma City high schools. Support for Jones had ramped up with the impending execution date.

This means that Jones, who has already spent nearly 20 years in prison, will spend the rest of his life in jail barring unforeseen developments in his case. “We still have to get his freedom.” The sentence for Jones, whose case has gained the support of anti-death penalty activists and numerous celebrities, will be commuted to life in prison without the possibility of parole, according to Stitt’s executive order. “We were overjoyed,” Jones’ sister Antoinette Jones told CNN. “When you think about how close we came to the finish line, it’s unbelievable.”

“Yesterday was an amazing feeling,” Jimmy Lawson, Julius Jones’ lifelong best friend told reporters. The announcement of clemency for Jones provoked jubilation at the state Capitol in Oklahoma City, where the death row prisoner’s supporters had awaited the governor’s decision.

Julius jones