The most glaring disparity between the police and eyewitness accounts revolves around the question of when and where the gun that allegedly belongs to Tate was located. “That he was basically shot in cold blood.” “I have a sworn affidavit from an eyewitness that says that this was done totally differently than what has been put on the news,” said Byron Potts, the attorney representing the Tate family. The Tate family’s attorney disclosed on December 12 - one day before Saunders’ arrest - that there are eyewitnesses who dispute the police account of Tate’s murder, and that the Tate family is considering filing an unlawful death suit against the CPD. They set up Tate, murdered him and are now attempting to place responsibility for their actions on an innocent 16-year-old Black girl. It is clear that the CPD wants this police murder quickly swept under the rug. “We need Julius Jones to be held responsible.Anti-racist activists demand justice for Julius Tate and Masonique Saunders in Columbus, Ohio | Twitter) And he still feels no shame, guilt or remorse for his action,” Tobey said. “He is the same person today as he was 22 years ago. Paul Howell’s sister, Megan Tobey, testified before the board that she distinctly remembers seeing Jones shoot her brother in front of his two young daughters. “It also failed Julius by condemning him to death for something he did not do.” “In these ways and more, the criminal justice system failed Mr.
#Justice for julius columbus ohio trial#
Jones said in his commutation filing that the gun and bandanna were planted there by the actual killer.īut Jones’ attorney, Amanda Bass, said his criminal trial was corrupted by the use of junk forensic science, jailhouse informants and a plea deal for the co-defendant who testified against him. Investigators also found the murder weapon and a bandanna with Jones’ DNA in an attic space above his bedroom. Trial transcripts show witnesses identified Jones as the shooter and placed him with Howell’s stolen vehicle.
Jones also maintains his trial was contaminated by a racist juror, but the Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals rejected that claim. But Oklahoma County District Attorney David Prater and former state Attorney General Mike Hunter have said the evidence against Jones is overwhelming. Jones alleges he was framed by the actual killer, a high school friend and former co-defendant who was a key prosecution witness. Since then, reality television star Kim Kardashian West and athletes with Oklahoma ties, including NBA stars Russell Westbrook, Blake Griffin and Trae Young, have urged Stitt to commute Jones’ death sentence and spare his life. Jones’ case drew attention after it was profiled in “The Last Defense,” a three-episode documentary produced by actress Viola Davis that aired on ABC in 2018. She also said Jones has had so much money deposited into his inmate account in the last couple of years that he has sent $18,000 to family and friends. Jones’ fate now rests with Stitt, who must decide whether to let Jones be executed or commute his sentence.Ĭrabb said Jones is a recognized member of the Bloods gang and that he has continued to commit criminal acts while in prison, including possessing contraband and using other inmate’s pin numbers to make telephone calls.
Jones’ theory of the case, you have to disbelieve every other piece of evidence in the case,” including testimony from law enforcement officers, independent witnesses and physical evidence, Smothermon said. The lone vote against clemency came from Richard Smothermon, a former prosecutor, who said he believed Jones was not being truthful in his testimony. “I continue to believe there is still doubt in this case,” said board member Kelly Doyle. One board member, Scott Williams, recused himself from the vote because of an existing friendship with an attorney who has advocated for Jones. Several members of the panel agreed they had doubts about the evidence that led to Jones’ conviction. The board recommended in 3-1 votes that Stitt grant Jones clemency and commute his sentence to life in prison with the possibility of parole after hearing from Jones, 41, who testified via video link from the Oklahoma State Penitentiary in McAlester. Kevin Stitt spare the life of Julius Jones, a man who has been on death row while proclaiming his innocence for more than two decades in the 1999 killing of a suburban Oklahoma City businessman. OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) - Oklahoma’s Pardon and Parole Board on Monday recommended that Gov. Please look at the time stamp on the story to see when it was last updated.
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