Julius Jones: Kim Kardashian reveals details of phone call as Oklahoma governor halts execution

Jones will not be executed, but will also be ineligible for further sentence reductions

Julius Jones supporters gather outside Oklahoma governor’s house ahead of execution

Julius Jones’ life was spared just hours before he was set to be executed.

Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt issued a statement just before 1:20pm EST announcing that he will commute Jones’ sentence to life in prison without the possibility for parole. He also noted in the statement that in doing so, he is removing Jones’ eligibility for any further reduction in his sentence.

“After prayerful consideration and reviewing materials presented by all sides of this case, I have determined to commute Julius Jones’ sentence to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole,” Mr Stitt said in the statement.

After the announcement, Kim Kardashian, who had been a vocal proponent for Jones, revealed that she spoke with Jones on a phone call hours before his execution. She said he refused anti-anxiety medication common for death row inmates facing execution because of his “clear conscience.”

Earlier in the day, Jones’ attorneys filed an emergency injunction hoping to halt his execution, arguing that the state’s recent lethal injections have been riddled with problems that cause lingering, torturous pain and suffering for the inmates sentenced to death. The attorneys hope that by proving that Oklahoma’s lethal injections qualify as “cruel and unusual punishment” they can at least buy their client more time.

Mr Stitt also faced international pressure after the European Union’s ambassador to the US penned a letter calling on him to stop the execution. A petition against the execution has garnered more than 6 million signatures.

Jones, 41, has spent more than half of his life in prison after he was charged and convicted of the murder of Paul Howell during a 1999 carjacking. He has maintained that he is innocent of the crime and was framed by his then-friend and co-defendant, who allegedly actually shot Mr Howell.

Key Points

• Jones’ supporters back at the state capitol pushing for a meeting with the governor
• Kim Kardashian issues passionate anti-death penalty plea ahead of Julius Jones’ scheduled execution
• European Union ambassador to the US delivers letter urging Oklahoma governor to stay Julius Jones execution
• Read Kim Kardashian’s emotional Twitter post
• Police barricade governor’s mansion as Oklahoma mulls Julius Jones execution
• 60% of Oklahoma city voters support commuting Julius Jones’ death sentence
• Oklahoma governor commutes Julius Jones’ sentence to life in prison without possibility of parole

[15 November 2021 16:40 · Graig Graziosi]

Welcome to the live blog

Welcome to The Independent’s live coverage of the ongoing case of Julius Jones, a man set to be executed on Thursday by the state of Oklahoma. Jones, 41, was imprisoned when he was 19 and has spent more than half his life in prison. He has maintained his innocence for decades, with a group of public advocates and celebrities - including Kim Kardashian - throwing their support behind him.

Despite this, the state maintains that the evidence against Jones is overwhelming, and Governor Kevin Stitt has given no indication he is considering staying Jones’ execution.

Jones and his supporters will be working up to the moment of execution to try to stop the execution.

[15 November 2021 17:00 · Graig Graziosi]

The race to spare Julius Jones from the death chamber

Julius Jones’ execution is scheduled to occur in less than 48 hours.

What events led to the this point, and what has the fight to spare the 41-year-old’s life looked like in the years leading up to this moment?

The Independent’s Josh Marcus examines the case from its origins in his story below...

[16 November 2021 16:24 · Graig Graziosi]

Kim Kardashian issues passionate anti-death penalty plea ahead of Julius Jones’ scheduled execution

Kim Kardashian is advocating for Julius Jones, and has called for Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt to spare his life.

Ms Kardashian issued a statement condemning the state’s use of the death penalty and supporting Jones’ claim that he is innocent.

“This is the cold machinery of the death penalty,” Ms Kardashian wrote on her Twitter account, “an innocent man could be put to death. My heart breaks for Julius and so many others who have suffered from such tragic miscarriage of justice.”

The Independent’s Jade Bremner has more in the story below...

[16 November 2021 16:45 · Graig Graziosi]

Family waits outside Oklahoma governor’s office in vain ahead of execution

The family of Julius Jones - who is set to be executed on Thursday - camped outside Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt’s office on Monday. Jones’ relatives hoped for the opportunity to speak with Mr Stitt about staying the execution, but were never given a chance to speak with the governor.

A family friend who waited outside the governor’s office said they would wait “as long as it takes” to get a moment of the governor’s time.

The Independent’s Sheila Flynn has more on the family’s desperate bid below...

[16 November 2021 22:49 · Graig Graziosi]

Police barricade governor’s mansion as Oklahoma mulls Julius Jones execution

Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt’s house has been barricaded by police as supporters of Julius Jones await his ruling.

Earlier today orange barrels and police tape were put in place around Mr Stitt’s house, but heavier barriers were brought in and installed around 5pm.

The Independent’s Josh Marcus has more on the story below...

[17 November 2021 07:37 · Eleanor Sly]

Kim Kardashian takes to Twitter to issue plea

Ahead of Julius Jones’ scheduled execution on Thursday, Kim Kardashian has taken to Twitter to express her feelings on the situation.

In an emotional post, the celebrity wrote: “At 9pm the day before his execution, #JuliusJones phone privileges will be terminated and he will receive his last meal.

“He will be checked on every 15 minutes for the last four hours of his life.

“Then, he will be put to death.”

[17 November 2021 08:57 · Eleanor Sly]

Julius Jones: Family wait outside Oklahoma governor’s office in vain ahead of execution

The family of death row inmate Julius Jones waited in vain for hours on Monday outside the Oklahoma governor’s office in an attempt to make one final desperate plea ahead of the 41-year-old’s scheduled 18 November execution.

Jones, who has spent more than half of his life in prison, was convicted of the 1999 murder of Oklahoma City businessman Paul Howell, who was shot in front of his two young daughters. He was sentenced to death during the height of the “Tough on Crime” era. He has maintained his innocence since his arrest, when he was a 19-year-old University of Oklahoma student, insisting he was framed by a prosecution witness.

An Oklahoma parole board recommended that Jones’ sentence be commuted in disagreement with the Howell family and Oklahoma Attorney General’s Office. Jones’ execution is scheduled for lethal injection Thursday.

Sheila Flynn reports:

[17 November 2021 10:35 · Eleanor Sly]

Police barricade governor’s mansion as Oklahoma mulls Julius Jones execution

Oklahoma City police officers have begun erecting barricades around the governor’s mansion, the Black Times reported, as governor Kevin Stitt considers stopping the impending execution of controversial Oklahoma death row inmate Julius Jones.

The state parole board has twice recommended that Jones, sentenced to execution for the 1999 murder of Paul Howell, be removed from death row, citing doubts about his true guilt. The decision, however, ultimately rests with Governor Stitt, and the execution will take place on 18 November unless he elects to grant Jones clemency.

Josh Marcus has more:

[17 November 2021 12:15 · Eleanor Sly]

The race to spare Julius Jones from the death chamber

The 1999 murder of Paul Howell was senseless and sensational.

The killing, in front of his two young daughters, devastated his family and stunned the surrounding community. Hundreds of officers and heavily armed SWAT troops fanned out across the Oklahoma City suburbs, searching for two black teenagers accused of killing the prosperous white businessman during a carjacking.

Once police caught a suspect, 19-year-old Julius Jones, the state’s most prominent prosecutor and newspaper editorial board both called for the death penalty in a manner of days, well before all the facts had been established.

Josh Marcus writes:

[17 November 2021 13:12 · Eleanor Sly]

Julius Jones’ mother pictured trying to talk to Oklahoma Governor

Julius Jones’ family attempted to talk to Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt.

A group including his mother, Madeline Davis-Jones, and some others ( who are not relations of Jones) were pictured outside his office on Monday.

From left to right, Quinita Jones (no relation), Rep. Jason Lowe, Madeline Davis-Jones, mother of death row inmate Julius Jones, and Dionne and Rev. Marcus Carruthers wait on a bench outside of Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt’s office, hoping for a meeting with him, at the Oklahoma Capitol in Oklahoma City, Monday, Nov. 15, 2021. (Doug Hoke/The Oklahoman via AP) (AP)