A Missouri judge is set to conduct an evidentiary hearing on Wednesday regarding the innocence claim of death row inmate Marcellus Williams. Williams, 55, faces a scheduled execution date of September 24 for the 1998 murder of Felicia Gayle. Despite being convicted in 2001 of first-degree murder, burglary, and robbery, Williams has consistently professed his innocence.
The Missouri Supreme Court directed St. Louis County Circuit Court Judge Bruce Hilton to oversee the hearing after blocking an agreement that would have spared Williams' life. The case has sparked a legal battle between local prosecutor Wesley Bell and state Attorney General Andrew Bailey.
Williams' innocence claim is supported by the Innocence Project and the Midwest Innocence Project, highlighting the potential risks associated with capital punishment. The case has raised concerns about the possibility of an innocent person being executed, with statistics showing over 200 individuals sentenced to death since 1973 have later been exonerated.
In January, the St. Louis Prosecuting Attorney's Office filed a motion to vacate Williams' conviction, citing DNA evidence that had not been previously reviewed by the court. However, new DNA testing introduced by Bailey's office suggested that the evidence had been compromised, making it challenging to establish Williams' innocence.
Despite efforts to reach an agreement that would have led to Williams entering a guilty plea in exchange for a life sentence, the state Supreme Court intervened and blocked the deal. The legal proceedings have also raised concerns about the reliability of informants and the integrity of the conviction.
