Many of the people who have had their sentences vacated are Black.Įarlier this year, US Attorney General Merrick Garland halted federal executions after several executions carried out by the federal government in the final weeks of Donald Trump's presidency. Media coverage of the murder, the Innocence Project argues, perpetuated racial stereotypes about Black men and criminality.Īdditionally, the organization noted that at least 10 people sentenced to death in cases under the local district attorney have had their sentences overturned due to prosecutorial misconduct. A juror is also said to have referred to Jones as the n-word and called for him to be brought behind the courthouse and shot. The organization also noted the impact of racial bias in the case, from the nearly all-white jury, to the arresting officers allegedly calling Jones the n-word while arresting the then 19-year-old. Court documents show that Jones did not fit the description the sole eyewitness, who described the murder suspect as having one to two inches of hair. Six other people on death row have been been scheduled for execution, bringing the state's total to 7 executions to be carried out in the next six months.Īccording to The Innocence Project, Jones was at home eating dinner with his family at the time of the Howell's murder. Jones is scheduled to be executed November 18 of this year. "We will not have further comment until the governor has made a decision." A federal court has stayed the execution of an Oklahoma prisoner, one day before the state was set to carry out its first death sentence in more. "The governor takes his role in this process seriously and will carefully consider the Pardon and Parole Board's recommendation as he does in all cases," Stitt spokesperson Charlie Hannema said, per Tulsa. Now, the eyes of the nation are on Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt's desk, who would be the one to grant the commuted sentence to Jones. For the last 19 years, Jones has served time in state prison and has maintained his innocence in the crime.Įarlier this month, the Oklahoma Pardon and Parole Board voted 3-1 to commute Jones' death sentence to life with the possibility of parole. Julius Jones was convicted of the 1999 murder of Paul Howell in Edmond, Oklahoma. An execution date has been set for a Black man whose has served half his life in prison for a crime he did not commit.
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