Many have noted it as emblematic of systemic racism in the criminal justice system. Since the release of the ABC documentary, the case has garnered support across social media and from celebrities, which has helped raise awareness for the case. 13 statement released by the family reads, “and that courts have reviewed that conviction for the last 18 years.” Advocates call the case a prime example of racism in the court system “The truth is that 12 jurors found Julius Jones guilty of murdering Paul Howell,” a Sept. Howell’s family, meanwhile, said they were “devastated” by the board’s decision. Howell and his family but I was not responsible.”
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“I have spent the past 20 years on death row for a crime I did not commit, did not witness and was not at.
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“As God is my witness, I was not involved in any way in the crimes that led to Howell being shot and killed,” Jones said in his clemency report. “However, neither they nor any other witness were called in Jones’ defense at trial.” “Family members were prepared to testify that he was at home during the crime’s commission,” Dale Baich, an attorney currently representing Jones said in a 2019 op-ed for The Oklahoman. (Jones’ legal team alleges that Jordan was the actual culprit.) Jordan served 15 years and has since been released.Īttorneys for Jones say that he was at home having dinner with his family at the time of the murder, an alibi which his family has consistently supported. In his testimony, Jordan alleged that Jones was the shooter and that he was just the getaway driver. The police later received information pointing to Jones, who was a 19-year-old freshman at the University of Oklahoma at the time, and another man, Christopher Jordan, as the perpetrators.Īt trial, Jordan testified against Jones-and as the state’s key witness. His sister and two daughters were present at the scene. Howell was shot and killed in his car-which was stolen shortly afterward-on the night of Jafter pulling into the driveway of his parents’ home. Jones, 41, was convicted of the murder of Paul Howell, an Edmond, Okla. Stitt said he would not commute the death sentence.
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The clemency hearing was scheduled after Gov. (The victim’s family has often spoken out against Jones, believing that he is guilty and supporting the death sentence.) And put simply, I have doubts about this case,” Board Chairman Adam Luck previously said at the commutation hearing. “Personally, I believe in death penalty cases there should be no doubts. (In a 3-1 vote, the board ruled that Jones’ death sentence should be commuted to life in prison).
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Stitt after the parole board made their commutation recommendation on Sept. His legal team had been awaiting a decision from Gov. Stitt said that a clemency hearing was “more intensive and thorough than a commutation hearing.” Stitt had previously announced that he would not be accepting a recommendation from the state’s parole board to commute the death sentence of Jones, which came after a commutation hearing in September. “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,” Gov. Though the governor ignored the clemency recommendations, Jones was spared death for a crime he says he did not commit.