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

[18 November 2021 19:00 · Graig Graziosi]

NAACP president praises advocacy for Julius Jones, calls for him to be free

Derrick Johnson, the president of the NAACP, issued a statement following the announcement that Julius Jones’ death sentence will be commuted by the governor of Oklahoma.

Mr Johnson praised the advocates who pressured the governor and called for Jones to be freed.

[18 November 2021 19:20 · Graig Graziosi]

‘Julius lives’: Oklahoma statehouse erupts in celebration as Jones narrowly escapes execution

Julius Jones will not be executed.

Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt announced on Thursday that he would grant Jones clemency, saving his life in the final hours before his planned execution.

Mr Stitt reduced Jones’ sentence to life in prison without the possibility of parole.

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

[18 November 2021 19:40 · Graig Graziosi]

Kim Kardashian reveals private call with Julius Jones hours before shock commutation

Kim Kardashian West has revealed she spoke to Julius Jones ahead of his planned execution, hours before his death sentence was commuted to life imprisonment.

“While I was on the phone with him somebody came in the room to try to give him his anti-anxiety meds that you usually are forced to take before you are executed so that you can be more calm about the fact that you are about to be executed,” she wrote.

“However Julius refused because he said he has a clear conscience and that gives him peace knowing he is innocent and did not want to be drugged up.”

The Independent’s Clémence Michallon has more in the story below...

[18 November 2021 20:00 · Graig Graziosi]

Death penalty abolitionist Sister Helen Prejean praises clemency ruling, notes possible future legal actions for Julius Jones

Sister Helen Prejean, a noted death penalty abolitionist, praised the decision by Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt to grant Julius Jones clemency.

She noted that while the governor removed the possibility for any further reduction in Jones’ sentence, there are still legal routes he can take to try to overturn his conviction and potentially leave prison.

[18 November 2021 20:10 · Graig Graziosi]

Oklahoma Attorney General John O’Connor says he is “greatly disappointed” that Julius Jones was not executed

Oklahoma Attorney General John O’Connor said issued a statement saying he was “greatly disappointed” that the work prosecutors did to convict and sentence Julius Jones was set aside by Governor Kevin Stitt, who granted Jones clemency.

He claimed that the death penalty for Jones was warranted, but praised the governor’s decision to remove Jones’ eligibility for further sentence reduction.

[18 November 2021 20:30 · Graig Graziosi]

Emotional video captures the moment Julius Jones supporters learned his life would be spared

An emotional video captured a crowd of Julius Jones supporters hugging and crying as they learn that Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt has stayed the man’s execution.

Mr Stitt reduced Jones’ sentence from death to life in prison without the possibility of parole.

[18 November 2021 20:50 · Graig Graziosi]

Madeline Davis-Jones, the mother of Julius Jones, issues statement on clemency ruling

Madeline Davis-Jones, the mother of Julius Jones, issued a statement responding to the news that her son would not be executed.

“For over twenty years, I have been haunted by the idea of watching my baby boy die in an execution chamber for a murder that occurred when he was home with his family,” she said. “I still believe that every day Julius spends behind bars is an injustice, and I will never stop speaking out for him or fighting to free him. But today is a good day, and I am thankful to Governor Stitt for that.”

[18 November 2021 21:15 · Graig Graziosi]

Dallas Cowboy’s quarterback Dak Prescott, who advocated for Julius Jones, reacts to news of clemency ruling

Dallas Cowboy’s quarterback Dak Prescott responded to the news that Governor Kevin Stitt will grant clemency to Julius Jones. Mr Prescott was an advocate for Jones, as were many other professional athletes and celebrities.

Mr Prescott learned of Jones’ case shortly after his brother, Jace, died by suicide. He said he could not save his brother but “wanted to help somebody else save their life.”

[18 November 2021 21:30 · Graig Graziosi]

Freedom vigil for Julius Jones planned for Thursday night

A “freedom vigil” will be held for Julius Jones tonight at 6pm CT in Oklahoma.

While Jones’ death sentence was halted by Governor Kevin Stitt, many believes Jones is innocent of the crime that landed him in prison for more than 20 years.

Mr Stitt’s ruling removed the possibility for Jones’ sentence to be further reduced, but he does have other legal pathways to overturn his conviction, which would allow him to leave prison.

[18 November 2021 22:00 · Graig Graziosi]

Howell family responds to Julius Jones clemency ruling

The family of Paul Howell, who was murdered in front of his children in 1999 - a murder which landed Julius Jones on death row - has responded to Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt’s decision to spare Jones’ life.

“We know Governor Stitt had a difficult decision to make. We take comfort that his decision affirmed the guilt of Julius Jones and that he shall not be eligible to apply for, or be considered for, a commutation, pardon or parole for the remainder of his life,” the family’s statement read. “We would like to thank the countless people in the Oklahoma Attorney General’s office, the Oklahoma County District Attorney’s Office and law enforcement agencies across the state for their tireless efforts and unwavering... support for the last 22 years. Julius Jones forever changed our lives and the lives of his family and friends.”