Free Julius Jones, Stop Falsely Incarcerating Black Men
Julius Jones’s death sentence commuted by Oklahoma’s governor
How many times must this same scenario play out, Black men wrongly incarcerated for life or sentenced to death even when evidence shows innocence or the legal system chose to ignore facts but saw the color of one’s skin.
Julius Jones, a Black man, was sentenced to death by lethal injection in Oklahoma whose lethal system agonized its victim as the lethal system never fully worked properly. The same day of the execution, Oklahoma’s governor stayed his impending execution and announce life in person with the possibility of parole for the murder of Paul Howell in 1999 for which Jones says he’s innocent.
Governor Kevin Stitt came to his decision to stay the execution after “prayerful consideration.” Prayerful consideration??? Really? Would have loved to hear that prayer. Prayerful consideration without dealing with facts of the case is rhetorical and vein rhetoric, aka political lip service.
In spite of the Oklahoma Pardon and Parole Board twice recommending Jones sentence to be commuted to life in prison with the possibility of parole, recently with a 3–1 vote on November 1, but because of prayerful considerations, Jones finds himself locked away forever for a crime he may not have committed.
One man confessed to the murder, one man pulled the trigger that killed Howell, and yet two men have to pay for his death regardless of what the facts state.
The Governor stayed the execution like he was doing Jones a favor by commuting his sentence with the condition that Jones will not be eligible for a commutation, pardon, or parole for the rest of his life. All his from Prayerful considerations?
Before, during, and after Jones’s conviction trial for the murder of Howell during a carjacking, Jones has maintained his innocent and has garnered the support of 6 million with the likes of Kim Kardashian who have signed a Change.org petition asking Stitt to prevent his execution due to the questions surrounding his case, along with his attorney who raised a number of issues with his case.
According to Jones’ attorney, Jones has spent two decades on death row for a crime he did not commit due to “fundamental breakdowns in the system tasked with deciding” his guilt, ineffective and inexperienced defense attorney’s racial bias among the jury, alleged prosecution misconduct and the many questions surrounding his case.
2018, Jones case was once again brought to the forefront and got media attention with an ABC documentary series, “The Last Defense”. With this kind of support and notoriety that sees the injustice before their eyes, but the Governor can only see his prayerful considerations.
Jones’ case reminds me of the Central Park Five justice story depicted in the film “When They See Us.” They were incarcerated for all of their adult life for a crime they did not commit and the court lacked evidence to prove their guilt. Their only crime was being Black.
During a highjacking on July 28, 1999, as Howell pulled up in his driveway with his sister and daughters, according to Howell’s sister the man who shot her brother was a Black man who wore jeans, a white T-shirt, a black cap, and a red bandana over his face. She speaks of one man shooting her brother and not two.
A few days later Jones (19) was arrested and the authorities found the murder weapon wrapped in a red bandana inside his family’s home. Jones was tried alongside his codefendant, Christopher Jordan, who was sentenced to 30 years in prison after pleading guilty to first-degree murder and conspiracy to commit a robbery. The codefendant testified against Jones, who was convicted and sentenced to death.
Contentions of concern in Jones’s case were Jones’ family said he was home with them that night of the murder, the jury never saw a photo of Jones, which would have shown that he did not match the shooter’s description. Also, the co-defendant, Christopher Jordan admitted to killing Howell and hiding the weapon and bandana insides Jones’ house. Also, Jones’s attorney said his client never confessed to the crime.
While it is painful to lose a brother and father in this manner, it is even more painful to accuse the wrong man who was almost put to death and now may die in jail because of her words.
Howell’s sister refutes the evidence about Jones’s innocence and stated that the media coverage is causing her much pain. How much pain is Jones having being locked away for a murder he never confessed to and no evidence has supported such?
Perhaps the Governor needs a bit more prayer consideration seeking the truth and walking in Jones’ shoes for a mile and seeing how it all looks from a different perspective sitting behind bars for a crime he did not commit.
How painful is it to be sentenced to death for a crime you did not commit or locked up for the rest of your life? What about getting to the truth.
According to the media coverage, limited DNA testing was done on the bandana, Jones DNA was tested, and not Jordan, the man who confessed to the crime and put the bandana in his friend’s house.
While it is painful to lose a brother and father in that manner, it is even more painful to accuse the wrong man who was almost put to death and now may die in jail because of her words. Yes, I get the pain, but the truth needs to come out!
Why not consider the possibility of being wrong? For example, a hundred people observe a fight and each tells a different story about the fight. The facts are what will correct all these varying opinions about the fight likewise in this murder case, the facts need to be told and justice needs to be served.
In conclusion, the court system needs to deal with facts and not biased or rigged injustices.
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