Julius Jones hearing: ‘I feel good all over’ mother of death row inmate says as clemency recommended
The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday
Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US
Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US
The Oklahoma Pardon and Parole Board recommended 3-to-1 on Monday that Julius Jones’s upcoming execution be stopped.
The high-profile inmate, set to be killed on 18 November, should instead get a life sentence with the possibility of parole for his conviction in the 1999 murder of Oklahoma City businessman Paul Howell, the board concluded.
Jones has maintained for years he did not murder Mr Howell, while the Howell family insists that police and a succession of trials and appeals courts correctly determined that Jones was the killer.
“Ordinarily during a parole hearing, we are charged with the responsibility of giving the inmates some choices about their future,” board member Larry Morris said, as the panel announced its recommendation, which will now go to the Oklahoma governor for a final decision.
“In this particular case, it’s been stepped up a notch,” he added, saying their vote decides “whether or not this young man even has a future.”
Morris pointed at how Jones’s co-defendant in the murder case, Chris Jordan, only served 15 years, what the board member called an “inherently wrong” facet of a prosecution activists say was tarred all over with racism and misconduct.
‘There are too many questions’: Girlfriend of slain Paul Howell pleads to stop Julius Jones death sentence
10 shocking statistics about the US death penalty that you won’t believe are still true in 2021
‘Broken beyond repair’: 150 executives including Sheryl Sandberg join The Independent to demand an end to the death penalty
Archbishop says clemency is ‘appropriate recommendation'
A spokesperson for Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt said he’s “aware of the Pardon and Parole Board’s vote today,” but added that “our office will not offer further comment until the Governor has made a final decision”.
A lawyer for Jones, Amanda Bass, said that “the Pardon and Parole Board has now twice voted in favour of commuting Julius Jones’s death sentence, acknowledging the grievous errors that led to his conviction and death sentence”.
“We hope that Governor Stitt will exercise his authority to accept the Board’s recommendation and ensure that Oklahoma does not execute an innocent man,” she added, according to KFOR.
“Clemency is an appropriate recommendation in this case,” the Archbishop of Oklahoma City, Paul Coakley, said in a statement. “No matter the guilt or innocence of Julius Jones, there is doubt. The death penalty is final and leaves no opportunity to seek the truth. Please pray for the children, family and friends of Paul Howell who have endured years of appeals and hearings while grieving tremendous loss. As Jesus teaches in the Sermon on the Mount, ‘Blessed are the merciful for they will receive mercy.’”
Sister to governor: ‘Adopt the recommendation from your parole board’
Antoinette Jones, the sister of Julius Jones, told reporters following the clemency recommendation from the parole board that she encourages “our honourable governor of Oklahoma, Kevin Stitt, to please take our evidence into consideration”.
“Please take the recommendation, adopt the recommendation from his pardon and parole board that voted again today, 3-1, to life with the possibility of parole,” she added.
Video shows first reaction to clemency recommendation from mother of Julius Jones
Social media users react to parole board decision to recommend clemency
The was both outrage and relief as social media users shared their reactions to the Oklahoma parole board’s decision to recommend clemency for 41-year-old Julius Jones.
“I think today’s news of Julius Jones clemency is definitely a forward step in the true values [of] our justice system,” Faith-Jay Jackson tweeted. “I believe in justice for both Paul Howell and his family, but as well as Julius Jones. Prayers for what’s right rather than convenient.”
“We watched our social Justice system fight tooth and nail to kill an innocent man in Julius Jones while we simultaneously watch the same system, institutions, media companies, and political parties, fight tooth and nail to justify people like Kyle Rittenhouse, and make them heroes,” another Twitter user wrote.
But others went against the parole board, insisting that Jones is guilty.
“Julius Jones is guilty. He did match the witness description. He had all of the clothing described by the witness and the murder weapon and his DNA matched. It’s not up for honest debate anymore. He’s guilty beyond a reasonable doubt,” one account holder wrote.
Howell family reacts to clemency recommendation
The Howell family spoke to reporters after the Oklahoma Pardon and Parole Board voted 3-1 to recommend to the governor that he grant clemency to Julius Jones, 41.
“We’d hoped that the board would change their recommendation based on the numerous documented falsehoods and half-truths argued by the Jones defence team at the commutation hearing,” Paul’s brother Bill Howell said.
“We’re saddened that our tragedy has been used by so many that choose to assume, without any fact-checking whatsoever, the worst of jurors, law enforcement, and the prosecutors, who bravely and tirelessly has sought justice for Paul and our family,” he added.
Civil rights advocates praise ruling in Julius Jones case
Civil rights activists are praising Oklahoma officials for recommending Julius Jones be taken off death row, but warn that the decision to do that still rests with Oklahoma’s conservative governor Kevin Stitt. “@GovStitt should accept the PPB [Pardon and Parole Board’s] recommendation quickly and cancel the execution scheduled for November 18th. Julius is still locked in a solid concrete death watch cell feet away from the execution chamber,” wrote celebrated death penalty activist Sister Helen Prejean.
Advocacy group Death Penalty Action, meanwhile, reacted by writing “YES!” on Twitter on Monday, arguing there was “#TooMuchDoubt” for Julius’s execution to go forward.
Oklahoma governor still undecided on Julius Jones execution
Julius Jones isn’t off of death row just yet.
The Pardon and Parole Board has recommended that he be given clemency, but that decision ultimately rests on Oklahoma’s conservative governor Kevin Stitt.
The governor’s office confirmed to The Independent he is aware of today’s decision, but it hasn’t announced any choice on the final appeal.
Signing off
Thank you for reading The Independent’s live coverage of the Julius Jones clemency hearing.
Stick with us for more reporting and commentary about capital punishment as part of our End the Death Penalty campaign.