Julius Jones' sister says Gov. Stitt's commutation isn't enough: 'We are committed to bringing him home'
Oklahoma Division of Corrections by way of AP, File
- Julius Jones was launched from demise row hours earlier than his execution.
- Because it stands, he'll now serve life in jail with out the potential for parole, per Gov. Stitt.
- Jones says he didn't commit the crime and his sister stated his household will proceed making an attempt to free him.
Someday after Gov. Kevin Stitt commuted former death-row inmate Julius Jones's sentence simply hours earlier than his scheduled execution, his sister informed Insider that it wasn't sufficient.
"Whereas we're grateful that Governor Stitt didn't execute Julius, the very fact is he's in jail serving a life sentence for a criminal offense he didn't commit," Antoinette Jones stated in an emailed assertion to Insider on Friday.
Julius Jones has been on dying row since his conviction in 2002 for the 1999 killing of Paul Howell — a criminal offense he insists he didn't commit. Jones's household says he was at house on the time of Howell's dying, however they weren't referred to as to the stand as witnesses through the trial, NBC News reported.
After reviewing his case, Oklahoma's Pardon and Parole Board advisable that Jones be granted clemency with the potential for parole. Nevertheless, the ultimate determination rested within the governor's arms, NBC Information reported.
"After prayerful consideration and reviewing supplies introduced by all sides of this case, I've decided to commute Julius Jones' sentence to life imprisonment with out the potential of parole," the governor said in a statement right before his execution.
Jones had to follow all procedures required of death row inmates previous to their state execution — together with ultimate assertion and final meal.
Because of this, because it stands, Jones will spend the rest of his life in jail with out the chance for a parole listening to on his launch, per Stitt's government order.
Kelli Masters, an lawyer that spoke in help of Jones' clemency on the listening to, previously told Insider that Jones was prohibited from going outdoors and speaking or seeing outsiders — in addition to attorneys or jail employees.
He'll now be moved to a unique jail beneath circumstances as an alternative of his "solitary confinement state of affairs," Masters advised Insider.
"We aren't but positive what our authorized choices are or what the trail ahead seems to be like, however we're nonetheless dedicated to bringing Julius house and we'll by no means surrender that struggle," Jones's sister added.
Jones's case has garnered a documentary and nationwide consideration — with calls to free him or to commute his sentence coming from students, activists, celebrities, and athletes.
Stitt's workplace didn't reply to Insider's request for remark.
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