The Missouri Supreme Court is set to hear arguments in the case of Marcellus Williams, a death row inmate, who has maintained his innocence ahead of his scheduled execution. Williams, 55, was convicted of the 1998 murder of Felicia Gayle, a former newspaper reporter found stabbed to death in her home. His lawyers and the St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney filed a joint brief requesting a more comprehensive hearing to review new evidence that contradicts the trial prosecutor's representations.
The brief argues that the court failed to credit newly disclosed evidence and wrongly ruled on DNA contamination issues. Williams' attorneys have also petitioned the US Supreme Court to stay the execution, citing violations of his due process rights during the legal battle. Former Governor Eric Greitens had previously halted Williams' execution indefinitely for further investigation.
St. Louis Prosecuting Attorney Wesley Bell raised concerns about Williams' conviction, including unreliable informants and reward money influencing testimony. Despite efforts to vacate the conviction, a state judge upheld Williams' guilt, sentencing him to death. The case has sparked a political divide between Bell and State Attorney General Andrew Bailey, with conflicting views on the new DNA evidence.
The potential execution of Williams has drawn criticism from human rights groups and calls for Governor Michael Parson to intervene. Concerns about the risk of executing an innocent person have been raised, with statistics showing exonerations in capital punishment cases. The Council on American-Islamic Relations and human rights advocates have urged Parson to halt the execution, citing the DNA evidence and concerns about justice.
