It also signals an incomplete victory for both sides of this case: Jones’s advocates are happy he’s alive, but lament his inability to now argue for release Oklahoma Attorney General John O’Connor condemned the decision, saying in a statement that he is “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.” That represents a different sort of death sentence. ![]() In short: Stitt spared Jones’s life, but wants him incarcerated for the duration of it. “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,” the governor said in a statement released by his office. Following a crush of national attention as athletes, activists, celebrities, and even fellow Republican lawmakers appealed loudly on Jones’s behalf, Stitt reduced Jones’s sentence to life in prison with no possibility of parole. Jones, 41, had spent nearly 20 years on death row professing his innocence. Kevin Stitt (R) on Thursday granted clemency to Julius Jones mere hours before Jones was scheduled to be executed for the 1999 murder and carjacking of businessman Paul Howell. So that just leaves hopes that Stitt, like this small group of Republican lawmakers and like the state's Pardon and Parole Board, has doubts about Jones' guilt.In a dramatic, eleventh-hour move, Oklahoma Gov. Based on previous rejections, it seems unlikely that there are enough votes on the Supreme Court to consider intervention. Jones' separate lawsuit with four other inmates challenging Oklahoma's execution drug cocktail was rejected Friday by the 10th U.S. Jones, like Grant, had sued (along with many other Oklahoma death row inmates) to try to stop this drug protocol, arguing that the dangers of midazolam violated their constitutional right to avoid "cruel and unusual punishment." Both Jones' and Grant's lawsuits were tossed because neither proposed any alternate methods for their executions. At the first execution since the moratorium ended, John Marion Grant vomited and went into convulsions as he was dying. Stitt has overseen the return to executions in Oklahoma after a six-year moratorium prompted by concerns that the drug the state is using, midazolam, is causing painful reactions in prisoners while they die. Stitt has not yet announced his decision, and the "Justice for Julius" campaign is urging folks to call Stitt's office and request clemency on Jones' behalf. Stitt accepts the recommendation of his Parole Board." We can't move forward with an execution under these circumstances in good conscience. "There is too much doubt here, especially given that Julius Jones' codefendant has confessed to being the real murderer. Gary Mize (R–Edmond) in a prepared statement. "The last thing the state should be doing is taking the life of someone who may be innocent," said Oklahoma state Rep. ![]() Many officials are clearly uncertain of Jones' guilt and think executing him at this point is a bad idea. The lawmakers' request comes on the heels of a 3–1 recommendation on November 1 from Oklahoma's Pardon and Parole Board supporting clemency for Jones. On November 11, five Republican Oklahoma lawmakers called on fellow Republican Gov. Celebrity and criminal justice reform advocate Kim Kardashian spent time with Jones and his mom and is supporting his cause. ![]() Jordan has served 15 years in prison and is free now.Ī petition has more than 6.4 million signatures asking for mercy. He and his defense attorneys point the finger at co-defendant Christopher Jordan, who got a deal from prosecutors in exchange for testifying against Jones. Jones has insisted all along that he is innocent and wasn't at the scene of the crime. Jones, 41, was convicted and sentenced to death for killing businessman Paul Howell during a 1999 carjacking in Edmond, Oklahoma. A lot of people want Oklahoma's governor to stop state officials from executing Julius Jones on Thursday.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
Details
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |