![]() There are too many questions and too much doubt about Julius’ guilt to allow the state of Oklahoma to execute him in just over two weeks. And I’m still tormented by his tragic death,” Ellison said. “I deeply loved and cherished Paul Howell. “There is simply no way to look at all the evidence in this case and have any confidence that the system worked to produce a just result, or that Julius’ trial was fair,” Bass said.Įllison said she was appearing because she believed there was too much doubt in the case to send Jones to death, although she said she knew her decision to speak would ruin her relationship with the Howell family. Connie Ellison, a friend of Paul Howell, also spoke. The documentary has been criticized by members of the Howell family and prosecutors, who say it presented inaccurate and incomplete information.Īlso speaking in front of the board on Jones’ behalf Monday were attorney Amanda Bass, former Oklahoma Death Penalty Review Commission member Christy Sheppard, and the cousin of a murder victim in a case where two men were wrongfully convicted. Jones’ case has attracted national and celebrity attention and was the subject of the 2018 docu-series The Last Defense, which questioned his conviction. ![]() “I was not involved during this robbery, I was not present during this robbery, and I did not know anyone had been killed at the time of the murder.” “I am not the person responsible for taking Mr. Jones said at Monday’s hearing that it was “stupid of me” to not go to the police at the time. He said he came into possession of the car Howell was shot in only after the killing and that he got the car from his friend, Christopher Jordan, who he claims was responsible for the carjacking and the murder. Jones, who appeared at the hearing via video link, acknowledged his criminal past but said he was innocent of Howell’s murder and around the “wrong company” at the time. Jones, supporters plead for clemency Attorney Amanda Bass speaks to the Oklahoma Pardon and Parole Board during the clemency hearing for death-row inmate Julius Jones on Monday, Nov. In late September, Stitt declined the board’s commutation recommendation because he felt that the clemency hearing would offer a more thorough discussion of the situation. The first-term governor will decide whether to change Jones’ sentence in any manner. The board’s recommendation now goes to Stitt, who has appointed Luck, Doyle and Williams to the board during his time in office. And you have to believe his version over every other piece of evidence, and I’m very concerned that’s a near impossibility.” Jones’ theory of the case, you have to disbelieve every other piece of evidence in the case,” Smotherman said before casting his vote. “At this point, I am convinced he is deserving of that.”įormer prosecutor Richard Smothermon voted against clemency and pastor Scott Willams recused himself owing to professional connections with a woman representing Jones, as he did in Jones’ commutation hearing. “This board, even though it may or may not be our role to determine whether or not someone is guilty or innocent, we do have the authority to make a recommendation to the governor based on our own opinions on whether this man is deserving of mercy and some leniency in his sentencing,” Morris said, explaining his vote. Voting in favor of clemency and recommending Jones’ sentence be commuted to life with the possibility for parole were board Chairman Adam Luck, Vice Chairwoman Kelly Doyle and member Larry Morris. ![]() Jones, who is on death row for the 1999 murder of Edmond resident Paul Howell, appeared in front of the board to plead his case for the first time since his conviction, saying he was not at the scene of the murder and did not hear of it until the next morning on the news. The board’s vote marks its second such recommendation for a change in sentence from death to life in prison with the possibility of parole, and it again puts the ultimate decision in the hands of Gov. The Oklahoma Pardon and Parole Board voted 3–1 today to recommend clemency for Julius Jones, who is scheduled to be executed in McAlester on Thursday, Nov. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |