OKLAHOMA CITY — Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt has commuted the dying sentence of condemned inmate Julius Jones, whose case had drawn the eye of quite a few sports activities figures, comparable to NBA stars Russell Westbrook, Blake Griffin and Trae Young.
Stitt commuted Jones’ dying sentence Thursday — the date of his scheduled execution — to life imprisonment with out the opportunity of parole.
Jones’ case drew widespread consideration after it was profiled in “The Final Protection,” a three-episode documentary produced by actress Viola Davis that aired on ABC in 2018. Since then, various sports activities figures with Oklahoma ties, together with Westbrook, Griffin and Younger, have urged Stitt to commute Jones’ dying sentence and spare his life.
Former Oklahoma quarterback Baker Mayfield spoke out in assist of Jones on Wednesday, saying: “I’ve been making an attempt to get the info said and the reality to be instructed for some time, however it’s powerful to consider. Tried and tried. It’s a disgrace that it has gotten this far. We’re 24 hours away. It’s powerful. Hopefully God can intervene and deal with it accurately and do the issues he must do.”
Golden State Warriors coach Steve Kerr tweeted out a video Wednesday wherein he mentioned: “I wished to place this video out, please share it. Please be a part of within the battle to avoid wasting an harmless man’s life. Do it for Julius. Do it for his household. Do it for our nation. This can’t occur in a civilized nation, and we’ve to maintain this from occurring. Do all the things you possibly can.”
Jones, 41, was convicted of first-degree homicide and sentenced to die for the 1999 taking pictures dying of Edmond, Oklahoma, businessman Paul Howell throughout a carjacking. Jones has proclaimed his innocence from dying row for greater than 20 years, saying he was framed by the precise killer, a highschool pal and former co-defendant who was a key witness towards him.
The state’s Pardon and Parole Board advisable in a 3-1 vote Nov. 1 that Stitt commute Jones’ sentence to life in jail, with a number of members of the panel agreeing they’d doubts in regards to the proof that led to Jones’ conviction. However Oklahoma County District Legal professional David Prater and the state’s former legal professional normal, Mike Hunter, have mentioned the proof towards Jones is overwhelming.
Info from trial transcripts exhibits that witnesses recognized Jones because the shooter and positioned him with Howell’s stolen automobile. Investigators additionally discovered the homicide weapon wrapped in a bandanna with Jones’ DNA in an attic house above his bed room. Jones claimed in his commutation submitting that the gun and bandanna had been planted there by the precise killer, who had been inside Jones’ home after the killing.
Howell’s sister, Megan Tobey, and two younger daughters had been in Howell’s SUV when the carjacking occurred in his mother and father’ driveway in Edmond. Tobey testified earlier than the board that she distinctly remembers seeing Jones shoot her brother.
“He is similar individual at present as he was 22 years in the past. He is nonetheless entering into hassle. He is nonetheless in a gang. He is nonetheless mendacity. And he nonetheless feels no disgrace, guilt or regret for his motion,” Tobey mentioned. “We want Julius Jones to be held accountable.”
Info from The Related Press was used on this report.