9/10/2023 0 Comments Julius jones oklahoma sport![]() The Julius Jones Coalition, a group established in 2019 composed of family, friends and community organizers pursuing Jones' innocence, has gathered support in recent months as NBA stars Blake Griffin, Russell Westbrook, Trae Young and Buddy Hield and NFL quarterback Baker Mayfield authored and sent letters to the governor's office.Įach letter hit a key issue that led to Jones' conviction - racial bias, a flawed investigation, an ill-equipped defense - and points to the wrong person sitting on death row. Jones has now exhausted every appeal and is eligible for an execution date, which could be as soon as this fall. In October 2019, Jones filed his clemency report, asking for his sentence to be commuted to time served. "I have spent the past 20 years on death row for a crime I did not commit, did not witness and was not at." "As God is my witness, I was not involved in any way in the crimes that led to Howell being shot and killed," Jones said in his clemency report. Howell's sister, Megan Tobey, was the only eyewitness.Īfter a three-day search for a suspect described as a young black male wearing a white shirt, a skull or stocking cap, and a red bandana over his face, Jones, then 19, was arrested. ![]() Two shell casings were found at the scene. The 45-year-old businessman was shot in the head on July 28, 1999, while sitting in a tan GMC Suburban in his parents' driveway in Edmond, Oklahoma. In 2002, Jones was convicted of first-degree murder for the death of Paul Howell. He's on death row, serving time for a crime he maintains he didn't commit, in a cell alongside 53 others stacked in two rows inside the Oklahoma State Penitentiary in McAlester. On Thursday, Julius Jones' death sentence was commuted to life in prison without the possibility of parole.įOR JULIUS JONES, H Unit has been home for 18 years. NBA, Oklahoma City Thunder, Houston Rockets, Atlanta Hawks, Detroit Pistons, Sacramento KingsĮditor's note: This story was originally published on June 17, 2020. Why Blake Griffin, Russell Westbrook and other NBA stars fought to save Julius Jones Westbrook wrote that it was "deeply disturbing" that a juror who used a racial epithet was allowed to continue on the jury.You have reached a degraded version of because you're using an unsupported version of Internet Explorer.įor a complete experience, please upgrade or use a supported browser "But when your arresting officer calls you the 'N-word,' when a juror calls you the 'N-word' and when all of this unfolds in the context of decades of death penalty convictions slanted against black men, it is impossible to conclude that Julius received fair and impartial treatment." "Every American is supposed to be guaranteed a fair and impartial trial," he continued. "Beyond the obvious shortcomings of the trial, another issue that continues to weigh on me is the obvious racial bias that permeated Julius' arrest, prosecution, and conviction," Mayfield said in his letter. ![]() Victoria Armstrong, a juror in the case, alleged another juror named Jerry Brown said the trial was a "waste of time" and suggested they "just take the n-r out and shoot him behind the jail." Armstrong told the judge presiding over the case about the comments, but Brown was allowed to continue as a juror. One police officer allegedly took off Jones' cuffs and said, " Run n-r, I dare you, run." In searching Jones' family home, police allegedly shattered windows, tore siding off the house, ripped apart beds and smashed picture frames. Jones was arrested after a three-day search for " a young black male wearing a white shirt, a skull or stocking cap, and a red bandana over his face" involved in the shooting death of 45-year-old businessman Paul Howell in Edmond, Oklahoma. ![]()
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