The looming execution of execution Julius Jones was brought to a screeching halt on Thursday, less than four hours before he was scheduled to receive a lethal injection.
Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt commuted Jones’ death sentence to life in prison without the possibility of parole following a last-minute court appeal.
“After prayerful consideration and reviewing materials presented by all sides of this case, I have determined to commute Julius Jones’s sentence to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole,” Gov. Stitt said in a statement.
Jones was he was arrested for the 1999 murder of Oklahoma businessman Paul Howell. He was 19. Jones was tried and sentenced to death in 2002. He has always maintained his innocence.
Prior to his arrest and subsequent incarceration, Jones, now 41, was a champion high school basketball player. He then attended the University of Oklahoma on an academic scholarship.
After years of legal battles and appeals, the state’s Pardon and Parole Board recommended that Jones’ sentence be commuted to life in prison with the possibility of parole in September.
“I did not kill Mr. Howell,” he wrote in a letter to the parole board in April. “I did not participate in any way in his murder; and the first time I saw him was on television when his death was reported.” His appeals had already been exhausted.
Amanda Bass, the attorney for Jones, released the following statement:
“Governor Stitt took an important step today towards restoring public faith in the criminal justice system by ensuring that Oklahoma does not execute an innocent man.
The family of Paul Howell also released a statement Thursday afternoon on the commutation of Julius Jones’ sentence.
“We know Governor Stitt had a difficult decision to make. We take comfort that his decision affirmed the guilt of Julius Jones and that he shall not be eligible to apply for, or be considered for, a commutation, pardon or parole for the remainder of his life.’
Jones supporters say the battle to free him from prison continues.
