Prosecutors have countered that the new witnesses are not believable. "There are multiple men who did time with Christopher Jordan who reveal that Jordan regularly and casually confessed to killing Paul Howell," Jones wrote. Jones claims Jordan is the actual killer and framed him to get a deal. Under a plea agreement, Jordan pleaded guilty to first-degree murder and conspiracy to commit a robbery for his role and was sentenced to 30 years in prison. Jones was directly implicated at trial in the fatal shooting by his friend, Christopher Jordan. Prosecutors pointed out to the parole board that his own trial attorneys testified Jones said he wasn't home. ![]() "How can I have love and compassion for Julius Jones?" "Why does my trauma have to be entertainment for people?" Rachel Howell told the board. “We should not allow the state to kill anybody without shining a spotlight on it,” said Abraham Bonowitz, executive director of Death Penalty Action, an organization calling for the abolition of capital punishment. ![]() Jones’ case also saw increased urgency recently after Oklahoma’s attorney general requested to schedule execution dates for seven death row prisoners, including Jones. His supporters include celebrity Kim Kardashian, who visited him last year at the Oklahoma State Penitentiary in McAlester. Millions signed a petition in Jones' support after ABC in 2018 aired the documentary series, "The Last Defense," about his innocence claim. Jones’ innocence claim has attracted support from celebrities and well-known athletes. “At 74, I never thought I’d be scared to go out in public,” she told the board. ![]() Toby said she has experienced “a whole new level of fear,” since Jones wrote her a letter, apparently having found her address. “As I was rushing the girls to safety, Jones yelled ‘stop’” and shot again, Toby said. Megan Toby, Paul Howell’s sister, said she heard the shot when she was exiting the passenger side of the vehicle. “I waved at him, like any innocent child would,” she said. Rachel Howell, one of Paul Howell's daughters, told the board she was in the backseat of the family vehicle when she saw Jones walk by. Jurors chose the death penalty as punishment at a 2002 trial.Īfter listening Monday to emotional appeals from Howell’s family, and legal points from a prosecutor and a defense attorney, Luck said the board is not a court or jury, but “quite simply, I have doubts about this case.” Jones, 41, is facing execution for the fatal shooting of Edmond insurance executive Paul Howell during a carjacking. “I just don’t have the words to say,” Madeline Davis-Jones, mother of Julius Jones, said after the board voted. Parole board members Adam Luck, Larry Morris and Kelly Doyle voted in favor of recommending commutation, while Richard Smothermon voted against.īoard member Scott Williams recused himself because of a professional relationship he had with one of the attorneys who spoke on Jones’ behalf The board, on a vote of 3-1, recommended Jones' death sentence be reduced and changed to life with the possibility of parole. Kevin Stitt commute the death sentence of Julius Jones for a 1999 killing that has garnered national attention. The Oklahoma Pardon and Parole board voted Monday to recommend Gov. Wolf also told News 4 members of the media can still plan to be let onto the property in McAlester at a certain time Thursday, as was planned before the stay was granted.Watch Video: Families react to commutation recommendation for Julius Jones In a statement sent to News 4 on Wednesday afternoon, Justin Wolf, communications director for ODOC said, “The Oklahoma Department of Corrections is prepared to move forward with executions in accordance with the orders of the court.” We are hopeful that the Supreme Court will vacate the stay so that justice can finally be served for the people of Oklahoma, including the families of the victims of these horrific crimes,” said the Office of Oklahoma Attorney General John O’Connor. We are appealing the decision to the United States Supreme Court. “We have received the Order of the Tenth Circuit granting a stay of the executions of John M. Those issues will be carefully reviewed by the court at the trial scheduled in February.” ![]() Today’s order should prevent the State from carrying out executions until the federal district court addresses the ‘credible expert criticism’ it identified in Oklahoma’s execution procedures. In response to today’s order, Dale Baich, one of the attorneys for the death row plaintiffs said, “The Tenth Circuit did the right thing by blocking Mr.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |