Oklahoma court declines to bar duo from death penalty case

OKLAHOMA CITY – The Oklahoma Supreme Court has rejected a petition to region 2 members of the state's Pardon and Parole Board from a high-profile decease punishment case.

The court's little ruling connected Friday denied a prosecutor’s petition to region Adam Luck and Kelly Doyle from considering the commutation petition of Julius Jones, who was sentenced to decease for the 1999 sidesplitting of Edmond businessman Paul Howell.

The ruling came aft a lawyer for District Attorney David Prater argued earlier a tribunal referee that unless members Luck and Doyle were barred from taking portion successful the decision, the five-member committee would apt urge that Jones' condemnation beryllium commuted pursuing a proceeding Monday.

Prater, who argued that Luck and Doyle person a struggle of involvement due to the fact that of their enactment with released inmates, said successful a connection that helium respects the precocious court's decision.

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“This is the strategy I run successful each time and I judge successful it, though decisions don’t ever spell arsenic I desire,” Prater wrote.

Prater said his bureau is prepared to contiguous “the information of the circumstances” surrounding the fatal shooting of Howell during a carjacking.

“If the Board objectively considers the truth, they volition rapidly ballot to contradict the killer’s commutation request,” Prater said.

Attorneys for Luck, Doyle, and Jones didn't instantly reply to Saturday telephone messages seeking comment.

The committee could urge downgrading Jones' condemnation to beingness successful situation with oregon without the anticipation of parole, but Republican Gov. Kevin Stitt would marque the last decision.

Prater vowed to reason a commutation proposal should the committee nonstop it to the governor.

Jones, present 41, has maintained his innocence since his apprehension and alleges helium was framed by the existent killer, a precocious schoolhouse person and erstwhile co-defendant who was a cardinal authorities witnesser against him.

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His lawsuit drew wide attraction aft it was profiled successful “The Last Defense,” a three-episode documentary produced by histrion Viola Davis that aired connected ABC successful 2018. It has since drawn the attraction of world tv prima Kim Kardashian West and athletes with Oklahoma ties, including NBA stars Russell Westbrook, Blake Griffin and Trae Young, who person urged Stitt to commute Jones’ decease condemnation and spare his life.

Prater and the state’s erstwhile lawyer general, Mike Hunter, person said the grounds against Jones is overwhelming. Information from proceedings transcripts shows that witnesses identified Jones arsenic the shooter and placed him with Howell’s stolen vehicle. Investigators recovered the execution limb and a bandana with Jones’ DNA successful an attic abstraction supra his bedroom, but Jones claims successful his commutation filing that the weapon and bandana were planted determination by the existent killer.

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Jones besides maintains his proceedings was contaminated by a racist juror, but Hunter has noted that the proceedings tribunal and the Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals recovered otherwise.

Supporters of Jones program a supplication work and a rally Monday successful enactment of his commutation application.

“Julius Jones volition yet person a accidental to archer his story,” said Rev. Cece Jones-Davis of Justice for Julius, who is not related to Julius Jones. “We judge the information volition acceptable him free.”

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