![]() ![]() ![]() "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," Bass' statement said. Jones will not be put to death but will face "life imprisonment without the possibility for parole, on the condition that he shall never again be eligible to apply for, be considered for, or receive any additional commutation, pardon, or parole," according to a press release from Stitt's office.Īmanda Bass, one of Jones' attorneys, said in a statement shared with The Oklahoman that Jones' legal team was "grateful" for the governor's decision but expressed disappointment that Jones would not be able to seek parole in the future. Stitt's Thursday decision came just hours before Jones was to be executed. The Oklahoma Pardon and Parole Board earlier this fall recommended Jones' sentence be changed from the death penalty to life in prison with the possibility of parole and recommended Stitt grant him clemency. His daughter, Rachel Howell, recently told CNN Jones' legal team "wants people to believe that Julius Jones is completely innocent" despite what she described as an "overwhelming amount of evidence against him." Howell's family has said they believe Jones is responsible for the 1999 murder. Oklahoma Department of Corrections via AP On Thursday, Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt blocked the scheduled execution of Jones, who has been on death row for nearly two decades. Julius Jones, above, sentence has been commuted to life in prison.
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