![]() He didn't say it has anything to do with concerns about how humane the process is or that there was the possibility of violent protests in response to the execution or anything like that. LAYDEN: Well, the governor said he did so, quote, "after prayerful consideration and reviewing materials presented by all sides of the case," end quote. So that was hanging over Jones' execution, as well as the concerns over whether he's actually guilty of the crime he was convicted of.ĬHANG: And what did Governor Stitt say about why he decided to commute the death sentence for Jones? John Grant - he threw up, convulsed, according to the witnesses who saw it. Supreme Court overturned the stay that was in place, and Oklahoma resumed executions. So there were no executions in Oklahoma for six years until just a couple of weeks ago. And really not necessarily by choice, the courts also were blocking them. After that, the state stopped executions. They were slow, painful deaths, and it was plain even to the state attorney general at the time that the lethal injection process needed to be looked at. Back in 20, there were two badly botched executions here. But I'm still hopeful that he's coming home.ĬHANG: Now, Logan, I know that Oklahoma only recently resumed executions after a hiatus of something like several years, right? Can you just remind us how we got to this point in your state? It's going to be hard - not that hard because we've already gone lots of steps now. LEE ANISHA JONES: Joy - joy of knowing my nephew was no longer going to be on death row and was not going to be killed today. LAYDEN: Yes, and I talked to his aunt, Lee Anisha Jones (ph), right after word came that he wouldn't be executed, and here's how she was feeling. Now Jones is in prison for life without parole.ĬHANG: And I understand that among the crowd outside the prison today were some of his family members. And then, as hundreds of people rallied for Jones outside the prison today, the governor made his call to commute the death sentence. And since then, the weight has been on to see whether Governor Kevin Stitt would allow the execution to happen, go with the board's recommendation or commute the sentence to life. So there are a lot of concerns around the case, and Jones has always maintained his innocence.ĬHANG: And the state - the state parole board recommended clemency here? In fact, another person has claimed he committed the crime and framed Julius Jones. And there are big questions about whether he actually committed the crime. And he was a promising athlete at the time, and that's part of the reason why we've seen high-profile athletes be part of the effort to stop the execution - and also other celebrities. LAYDEN: Well, Julius Jones, a Black man - he was convicted of a murder in the Oklahoma City area 20 years ago when he was 19 years old. OK, so can you just tell us more about who Julius Jones is and the controversy around his case? Logan Layden with member station KGOU was outside the state penitentiary where hundreds of Jones's supporters had gathered. But the execution was called off after Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt commuted his sentence to life without parole. 28.Julius Jones was scheduled to die by lethal injection in Oklahoma this afternoon for a 1999 murder that he has always said he did not commit. John Marion Grant was convulsing and vomiting when he was executed Oct. Oklahoma last month ended a six-year execution moratorium prompted by concerns about lethal injection methods. Stouffer is scheduled to be executed Dec. In a separate vote Wednesday, the panel voted 3-2 to pardon another death row inmate, Bigler Stouffer, citing concerns about the state’s lethal injection protocols. The Board of Pardons and Paroles twice voted 3-1 to pardon Julius Jones. Jones claims the actual killer, a high school friend and co-defendant who testified against him and was released after 15 years, framed him. Jones’ mother had tried unsuccessfully to meet Stitt on Monday. The impending execution had sparked protests across Oklahoma and the United States.īefore making his decision, Stitt met with Jones’ attorneys and the victim’s family. The 41-year-old Jones, who has maintained his innocence for more than two decades, was scheduled to receive a lethal injection at the state prison in McAlester. The clemency board had recommended life in prison with the possibility of parole earlier this month. Stitt reduced Jones’ sentence for the 1999 murder of a businessman to life in prison without the possibility of parole. Acting on the recommendation of the state Board of Pardons and Paroles, Stitt, a Republican, acted just hours before the scheduled execution. Oklahoma state Governor Kevin Stitt has pardoned inmate Julius Jones, who was scheduled to be executed Thursday night.
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