![]() Additionally, the officer who arrested Jones’ threatened the nineteen-year-old, calling him the n-word and daring him to outrun the bullets of his gun. Howell was a white man killed in a predominantly white community, the media, influenced largely by District Attorney Bob Macy, immediately characterized the crime as an act of drug-related violence committed by Black men. ![]() The Innocence Project delineates several instances of discriminatory behavior that occurred over the course of Jones’ arrest and conviction. This claim is supported by the Innocence Project, a nonprofit organization founded in 1992 for the purpose of exonerating the wrongly convicted and reforming the criminal justice system. Jones would’ve been acquitted.”īesides having an unequipped defense counsel, Jones’ family also claims that his original trial was unfair because it was tainted with racial bias. David McKenzie, the lead attorney in Jones’ case admitted to his missteps, stating “If I had presented the photographs of the confessions and the prior statements, I believe Mr. ![]() These included neglecting to provide photographic evidence during the trial. Jones’ alibi, placing him at home with his family on that fateful night in July, was not presented at his original trial and his family claims that they were unable to testify for years about his whereabouts due to an inadequate and inexperienced defense team.Īccording to the Washington Post, Jones’ case was the first capital murder case his public defender had ever taken and he made several, critical mistakes. His family also reported that on July 28, Jones was home with them “eating spaghetti and cornbread” for dinner and “playing Monopoly.” The Oklahoma Pardon and Parole Board Chairman himself expressed such uncertainty, saying “I believe in death penalty cases there should be no doubt, and put simply, I have doubts in this case.”Īccording to CBS News, eyewitnesses from the night of the murder “reported seeing a Black man with a red bandana and 1-2 inches of hair.” At the time of his arrest, however, Jones had a shaved head, thus failing to fit the suspect profile. Much of this evidence suggests that he may be an innocent man behind bars. The recommendation for clemency comes from a development of uncertainty in Jones’ guilt based on a plethora of evidence that has surfaced over the years since his conviction. The final decision on whether Jones will live or die is now left to Governor Kevin Stitt. Despite this recommendation, Jones’ execution remains scheduled for Nov. 1, twenty-two years after the homicide, the Oklahoma Pardon and Parole Board voted 3-1 to recommend clemency for Julius Jones, and to reduce his death sentence to life in prison with the possibility of parole. Just three days later, nineteen-year-old Julius Jones was arrested and convicted of Howell’s murder. On July 28, 1999, Paul Howell, a loving son, brother, and father of two, was carjacked and murdered in the driveway of his parent’s home. *Note: A t the time of writing this article, Jones had not received clemency.
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