Oklahoma governor commutes death sentence of Julius Jones hours before planned execution

Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt (R) granted a last-minute commutation on Thursday to Julius Jones, who has spent 20 years on death row for a murder he has maintained he did not commit. Jones, now 41, had been scheduled to be executed Thursday afternoon. "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," Stitt said.

The Oklahoma Parole and Pardons Board had voted 3-1 earlier this month to recommend commuting Jones' sentence to life in prison with the possibility of parole.

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Peter Weber, The Week US

Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.