julius jones oklahoma christopher jordan

The killer’s lies are a desperate attempt to avoid accountability for his cowardly and brutal murder of Paul Howell in front of his two young daughters.” “Every word of their assertions, intended to manipulate the public and the Pardon and Parole Board are outright lies. “The killer’s attorneys have had the report for months and were completely aware of what the sentencing language meant,” he said. Oklahoma County District Attorney David Prater called Jones’ attorneys statement in the court filing that the “investigator’s recommendation” section is, in fact, a recommendation by the investigator, “a complete misrepresentation” and an “outright” lie. “She was merely providing the options of ‘Life Without Parole’ or ‘Life’ as potential reduced sentences, as is the practice for all commutation considerations at a Stage II hearing.” “The PPB’s investigator was not making a recommendation to the Board on how they should vote on Julius Jones’ commutation,” Counts wrote. “Due to the high volume of commutation hearings held since 2019, the Board asked staff to include options for reduced sentences that are within range for the offense(s) being considered,” Counts said in the email, obtained by The Frontier.Ĭounts said in the email the possible reduced sentences are included under the “Investigator Recommendation” section due to a “software limitation.” However Counts did email Jones’ attorney Dale Baich to say that the Pardon and Parole Board does not consider the “recommendation” of the investigator to be an actual recommendation. Pardon and Parole Board General Counsel Kyle Counts did not respond to multiple phone call and email requests for comments from The Frontier for weeks leading up to the release of the document. Jordan, who testified against Jones, was also convicted of killing Howell, but served only 13 years in prison before being released. Oklahoma County District Attorney David Prater has said for years he believes Jones is guilty of Howell’s murder, while Jones has said repeatedly that Chris Jordan killed Howell.

The report, compiled by Pardon and Parole Board investigator Lisa Reading, included a lengthy description of the views of both the Oklahoma County District Attorney’s Office and Jones himself. Jones has maintained his innocence and there’s been a groundswell of public support in recent years for his release from prison amid questions about the evidence in his case and the state’s history of bungled executions. Jones, 41, has spent two decades on death row for the 1999 killing of Edmond businessman Paul Howell. The original headline, “Investigation by Oklahoma Pardon and Parole Board recommends Julius Jones not be executed,” has been changed to reflect the assertions by the Pardon and Parole Board.Īn investigator for the Oklahoma Pardon and Parole board wrote in her report under “Investigator recommendation” that death row prisoner Julius Jones be granted life in prison, either with or without the possibility of parole. Editor’s note: This story has been updated with text from an email sent by Pardon and Parole Board General Counsel Kyle Counts to Dale Baich, an attorney for Julius Jones and other death row inmates.

Julius jones oklahoma christopher jordan