/Oklahoma Pardon and Parole Board recommends commuting death row inmate Julius Jones’ sentence – KOCO Oklahoma City

Oklahoma Pardon and Parole Board recommends commuting death row inmate Julius Jones’ sentence – KOCO Oklahoma City


Oklahoma Pardon and Parole Board recommends commuting death row inmate Julius Jones’ sentence



would you please call the vote? So I want to keep my comments agree. But I want to just start by acknowledging how difficult this process I know has been for us. I can’t imagine how difficult it’s been for those involves um, I know that words are gonna fail us today and captain the gravity of what’s been presented and recounted and yet I do feel that it’s necessary to again expressed gratitude to our family for being here today and sharing with us what you have. Um, I also think it’s necessary for me personally to provide an explanation on my boat. You all know, we’ve spent uh weeks. Um, and yeah, most of this year considering the information presented here today, we’ve acknowledged before and we want to acknowledge again at least I view that we are not a court. We’re not a jury. There is no way that we will capture and understand all the information that’s been presented in this case over the course of the years. Despite reviewing what’s been presented, I just want to acknowledge that that is not our role. However, we do have constitutional duties at the part of the World Board. And uh, I do believe that one of the reasons the pardon parole board exists is to ensure that state has options all the way through the end of the process. Again, personally, I believe that the death penalty in death penalty cases, there should be no doubt and put simply. I have doubts about this case. I cannot ignore those doubts, especially when the stakes are life and death for this reason my vote is yes and I recommend commuting the sentence to life with the possibility of parole kelly Doyle. I’m sorry Larry Morris, for the reasons stated by chairman. Look, I also voted uh, to commute life kelly Doyle. Um, I agree with chairman lock and vice chair Morris I think. Um, and for me in evaluating this case, I was looking at the um, the crime and whether the punishment is deemed excessive and there were significant aggravating factors, but there were significant mitigating factors that I believe need to be considered. Most notably that Mr Jones was 19 years old at the time of the crime and what we know about brain science and brain development now is not what we knew when Mr jones was convicted. Um, and one’s ability to manage impulse inhibition and understand one’s consequences. Uh, that was not fully understood science 20 years ago. Um, I too believe that there is doubt, uh, an information that has been brought in this case in the last 20 years. Uh, that would um, believe it not in the best interests of the state to utilize the ultimate punishment in this case. And for those reasons, I am yes, I recommend commuting july Richard’s mother man as my vote is somewhat unnecessary I guess is that it is clear. I do want to say though there are two things that concern me. one is precedent for this board. Um, and that is, I tried to grapple with this all weekend about the gravity of it and it, but at the end of the day, it is a case just like every other case of this board seat and we have the misconduct that bothers me. There was never any, you know, There was one in March April 29 where he tested positive and I think we ought to be consistent. Uh and there’s going to be votes for the rest of this Tuesday and Wednesday, where my vote at least at this point about hearing from the other parties is probably going to be no because they have a misconduct within the past year. And so I want to be careful about precedent on any things. And the other thing is this uh MS Masters and Senator Young and Senator Young knows my affinity for um for the first time I heard something about Mr jones other than just the facts of the case and that’s that would be important to me and in here is to see and to hear. Yeah. Mhm. If we’re going to make the ultimate decision and the death penalties are worthy arguments for that is a discussion worth having. Um I would have much preferred to have had this in the pregnancy where all of those things could be meted out and where I could look in the eyes and get a palpable feel myself. So for that reason, my vote isn’t computation is recommended. Okay

Oklahoma Pardon and Parole Board recommends commuting death row inmate Julius Jones’ sentence

The Oklahoma Pardon and Parole Board voted on Monday to recommend commuting death row inmate Julius Jones’ sentence. Jones was convicted and sentenced to death for the 1999 murder of Edmond businessman Paul Howell. Jones has always maintained his innocence and has garnered support from high-profile celebrities such as Kim Kardashian, Baker Mayfield and Blake Griffin.In a 3-1 vote, the board recommended commuting Jones’ sentence. The final decision will be up to Gov. Kevin Stitt.Officials with Stitt’s office released a statement:“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. We will not have any further comment until the governor has made a decision.”>> Did you know? Group gathers for march in Oklahoma City in support of death row inmate Julius JonesOklahoma County District Attorney David Prater confirmed to KOCO 5 on Sunday that his office would file the motion Monday to have board member Scott Williams recuse and/or disqualify himself. The motion claims Williams is biased and has a conflict of interest. Williams recused himself on Monday morning, but said that he is, “in complete compliance of the Oklahoma Pardon and Parole Board.” He insists there is no conflict of interest but recused himself out of an abundance of caution. After Williams’ recusal, there would be four votes.This means the Pardon and Parole Board would need 3 out of 4 “Yes” votes for Jones to be recommended for commutation. >> Related: Family starts ‘Justice for Paul Howell’ campaign as death row inmate Julius Jones maintains innocence On Friday, the Oklahoma Supreme Court said it wouldn’t stop two key members of the Pardon and Parole Board from taking part in the commutation hearing. Prater tried to stop Kelly Doyle and Adam Luck from participating, saying they are biased.>> Related: Oklahoma Supreme Court denies effort to remove two Pardon and Parole Board members from Julius Jones case

The Oklahoma Pardon and Parole Board voted on Monday to recommend commuting death row inmate Julius Jones’ sentence.

Jones was convicted and sentenced to death for the 1999 murder of Edmond businessman Paul Howell. Jones has always maintained his innocence and has garnered support from high-profile celebrities such as Kim Kardashian, Baker Mayfield and Blake Griffin.

In a 3-1 vote, the board recommended commuting Jones’ sentence. The final decision will be up to Gov. Kevin Stitt.

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Officials with Stitt’s office released a statement:

“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. We will not have any further comment until the governor has made a decision.”

>> Did you know? Group gathers for march in Oklahoma City in support of death row inmate Julius Jones

Oklahoma County District Attorney David Prater confirmed to KOCO 5 on Sunday that his office would file the motion Monday to have board member Scott Williams recuse and/or disqualify himself. The motion claims Williams is biased and has a conflict of interest.

Williams recused himself on Monday morning, but said that he is, “in complete compliance of the Oklahoma Pardon and Parole Board.” He insists there is no conflict of interest but recused himself out of an abundance of caution. After Williams’ recusal, there would be four votes.

This content is imported from Twitter.
You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site.

This means the Pardon and Parole Board would need 3 out of 4 “Yes” votes for Jones to be recommended for commutation.

>> Related: Family starts ‘Justice for Paul Howell’ campaign as death row inmate Julius Jones maintains innocence

On Friday, the Oklahoma Supreme Court said it wouldn’t stop two key members of the Pardon and Parole Board from taking part in the commutation hearing. Prater tried to stop Kelly Doyle and Adam Luck from participating, saying they are biased.

>> Related: Oklahoma Supreme Court denies effort to remove two Pardon and Parole Board members from Julius Jones case

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