HELP SAVE JULIUS JONE'S LIFE: SIGN PETITION 'JULIUS JONES IS INNOCENT - DON'T LET HIM BE EXECUTED BY THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA' AT THIS LINK:
Excellent support cite:
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BACKGROUND: "From letter NBA superstar Trae Young to governor and parole board: I and so many other people have been called to raise concerns regarding Julius Jones’ case because of the many obvious ways in which the legal system failed him. Julius’ co-defendant, who testified against him, changed his story no fewer than six times when interviewed by the police. However, Julius’s attorneys, who lacked death penalty experience and were woefully unprepared, failed to cross-examine the co-defendant regarding his inconsistencies. They did not mention that Julius’ co-defendant had bragged to fellow inmates that he had committed the homicide, not Julius. Nor did they inform jurors that Julius did not meet the description of the shooter provided by the sole eye witness. Julius’ attorneys also failed to present evidence that Julius was home with his family the night of the murder. Finally, the prosecution used a scientifically discredited bullet analysis, presented by an analyst who pled guilty for giving false testimony only months after Julius’s trial."
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| RELEASE: "The Last Defense: Julius Jones - A Special Edition of 20/20" Airs Tuesday, July 14 (8:00 - 10:00 p.m. EDT), on ABC: The two-hour "20/20" on Julius Jones is an abridged version of Viola Davis' and Julius Tennon's documentary series, "The Last Defense." | |
| GIST: A SPECIAL EDITION OF '20/20' FEATURES FORMER HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL STATE CHAMPION AND STAR FOOTBALL PLAYER JULIUS JONES, WHO IS SEEKING CLEMENCY WHILE ON DEATH ROW FOR MURDER 'The Last Defense: Julius Jones - A Special Edition of 20/20' Airs Tuesday, July 14 (8:00 - 10:00 p.m. EDT), on ABC ------------------------------------------------------------------------ In 1999, authorities arrested 19-year-old former high school basketball state champion and star football player Julius Jones, days after a businessman in a predominantly white suburb of Oklahoma City was shot and killed. Prior to the murder, Jones was a student at the University of Oklahoma on a partial academic scholarship with dreams of joining the basketball team. Now, 21 years later, a two-hour "20/20" reports on the crime, trial and a key piece of evidence that authorities recently tested for DNA. The program features an interview with Jones from death row, who tells his version of events, claiming that he is innocent, and his lawyers' claims that systemic racism influenced his conviction. "20/20" also reports on the celebrities, including Kim Kardashian West and NBA players Russell Westbrook, Trae Young and Blake Griffin, who support Jones' quest for clemency. "The Last Defense: Julius Jones - A Special Edition of 20/20" airs Tuesday, July 14 (8:00 - 10:00 p.m. EDT), on ABC. The two-hour "20/20" on Julius Jones is an abridged version of Viola Davis' and Julius Tennon's documentary series, "The Last Defense." "The Last Defense" is executive produced by Viola Davis, Julius Tennon and Andrew Wang for JuVee Productions; Christine Connor for XCON Productions; Vanessa Potkin and Aida Leisenring for Lincoln Square Productions; and Lee Beckett for ABC News Longform. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
The entire release can be read at:
http://www.thefutoncritic.com/news/2020/07/10/the-last-defense-julius-jones-a-special-edition-of-20-20-airs-tuesday-july-14-800-1000-pm-edt-on-abc-627111/20200710abc01/
PUBLISHER'S NOTE: I am monitoring this case/issue. Keep your eye on the Charles Smith Blog for reports on developments. The Toronto Star, my previous employer for more than twenty incredible years, has put considerable effort into exposing the harm caused by Dr. Charles Smith and his protectors - and into pushing for reform of Ontario's forensic pediatric pathology system. The Star has a "topic" section which focuses on recent stories related to Dr. Charles Smith. It can be found at: http://www.thestar.com/topic/charlessmith. Information on "The Charles Smith Blog Award"- and its nomination process - can be found at: http://smithforensic.blogspot.com/2011/05/charles-smith-blog-award-nominations.html Please send any comments or information on other cases and issues of interest to the readers of this blog to: hlevy15@gmail.com. Harold Levy: Publisher: The Charles Smith Blog;
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FINAL WORD: (Applicable to all of our wrongful conviction cases): "Whenever there is a wrongful conviction, it exposes errors in our criminal legal system, and we hope that this case — and lessons from it — can prevent future injustices."
Lawyer Radha Natarajan:
Executive Director: New England Innocence Project;
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