Lawyers from the St. Louis Prosecuting Attorney’s Office are set to present evidence in court Wednesday that they say excludes a Missouri death row inmate as the perpetrator of a 1998 murder for which he’s scheduled to be executed next month.
The inmate, 55, is slated to be put to death September 24 for the fatal stabbing of a one-time St. Louis reporter, though he has maintained his innocence. DNA testing of the murder weapon done in 2016 excludes him as the reporter’s killer, according to his lawyers and the St. Louis Prosecuting Attorney.
At least 200 people sentenced to death since 1973 have been exonerated, highlighting the risk of capital punishment. The Prosecuting Attorney filed a motion to vacate the inmate’s conviction and death sentence in January, based on new evidence.
The Missouri Attorney General’s Office fought the motion, arguing only the state Supreme Court has the authority to stay the execution. However, the court denied the request by the Attorney General.
The inmate was convicted mainly on the testimony of two unreliable informants, who were incentivized by a reward offered by the reporter’s family. The investigation struggled, with inconsistencies in witness statements and evidence.
The DNA evidence now in question was not available at the trial. Three DNA experts determined the results exclude the inmate as the source of male DNA found on the knife.
The case raises concerns about potential wrongful convictions and the need for thorough review of evidence in capital punishment cases.
