Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott has long since been involved in the Julius Jones case. He had a very understanding feeling after Jones’ sentence was commuted earlier Thursday.
Julius Jones was convicted of murdering Paul Howell in 1999 during a carjacking. However, Jones has maintained his innocence and has spent the last two decades on death row. Jones’ attorneys had petitioned for clemency pointing at many issues during the trial, including racial bias among the jury.
The case received notoriety once again in 2018 when it was featured on the ABC documentary, “The Last Defense.” Public figures like Kim Kardashian and Prescott have since tried shed more light.
Last summer, Cowboys QB Dak Prescott sent a letter to Oklahoma governor Kevin Stitt, asking for clemency for Jones.
As noted by USA Today writer Jori Espstein, Prescott has felt personally connected to this case. He lost his brother to suicide this past April and has dealt with feelings of guilt ever since.
Jones was scheduled to be executed Thursday until Governor Stitt commuted his sentence today. Jones is off death row and will serve life in prison without the possibility of parole.
In response to the death sentence being commuted, Prescott had a heartfelt message.
“I’m thankful for the governor to grant his clemency first and foremost… I know there’s a lot of people that are supporting Julius and supporting the governor’s decision in which he made,” Prescott said. “The treatment of Julius Jones is the kind of miscarriage of justice African American men like myself live in fear of, and that is why I feel compelled to use the influence that God has blessed me with to speak up for what I believe is right and to give a voice to those who cannot speak for themselves.”
The Dallas Cowboys face off against the Kansas City Chiefs Sunday.
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