![]() ![]() She had claimed she saw a man with about half-inch long hair. In recent years, her 1999 description of the man she saw has come under scrutiny. Relatives of Paul Howell, who was murdered in 1999, ask the Board to deny Julius Jones’ commutation request at the commutation hearing on Monday, September 13, 2021. She explained how she and her family were returning home from a shopping trip when “a Black man standing in the doorway, leaned over the drivers side,” she said. “I know beyond a doubt that Julius Jones murdered my brother,” she added. “I was there when my brother Paul Howell was murdered,” Howell’s sister said. “The guilt of Julius Jones is so overwhelming we would ask the Board to see that truth, hear that truth and offer no relief to Julius Jones through these commutation hearings.” “Defenders and supporters of Julius Jones have “misrepresented the facts and often lied,” Howell’s sister added. He also denied that Jones was at home during the time of his murder. He argued that the Supreme Court’s unwillingness to review the case illustrated Jones’ guilt. “We all know Julius Jones was thoroughly tried, unanimously convicted “ and sentenced for killing my brother, said a relative of Paul Howell. Howell family speaks to Pardon and Parole Board, seeks death penalty Kelly Doyle, who voted yes for commutation. Oklahoma Pardon and Parole Board members from left to right: Scott Williams, who recused himself from the vote. The board heard from three parties at the commutation hearing: the murder victim’s family, prosecutors with the Oklahoma County District Attorney’s Office, and defense counsel for Julius Jones. “This hearing is the first of its kind,” Adam Luck said. ![]() Chairman of the Board, Adam Luck, clarified that any votes that come to a tie would be considered a denial. With his recusal, voting members were reduced from five to four. ![]() Nevertheless, he chose to voluntarily recuse himself from voting on Jones’ commutation request to ensure the hearing went forward without delay. “I’m confident that no conflict of interest exists in this case.” “I’m in complete compliance” with Pardon and Parole Board regulations, Williams said at the hearing. He had argued that the organizations they work for made them especially inclined to support the commutation of death row prisoners. Last week, the Oklahoma Supreme Court denied DA Prater’s request to remove board members Adam Luck and Kelly Doyle. Commutation hearing begins with recusal of Board memberīefore the Board came to a vote, Board member Scott Williams began the discussion by pushing back against Oklahoma County District Attorney Prater’s accusation that his and other members’ appearance on the Board represented a conflict of interest. Julius Jones’ petition on now has 6.3 million signatures signed. A moratorium was placed on this practice in Oklahoma in October of 2015 due to two botched executions that took place on April 2.Īll execution dates were placed on hold until the state could find a solution. Oklahoma continues to allow the death penalty, which is currently legal in 27 states, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. The rally ended with a march to Evangelistic Baptist Church, which is across the street from Jones’ commutation hearing inside the Kate Barnard Community Corrections Center.
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