Oklahoma governor grants clemency to Julius Jones hours before scheduled execution

Jones, who has maintained his innocence for more than two decades, was scheduled to receive a lethal injection on Thursday

The governor of Oklahoma, Kevin Stitt, has granted clemency to Julius Jones, a death row inmate who faced execution on Thursday afternoon.

Following a recommendation from the state pardon and parole board, Stitt, a Republican, acted with hours to spare before the scheduled state killing.