The Missouri Supreme Court is set to hear arguments on Monday in the case of Marcellus Williams, who is facing execution for the 1998 stabbing death of Lisha Gayle in University City, Missouri. Williams, who has maintained his innocence, is scheduled to be executed by injection on Tuesday evening.
Williams' attorneys have raised questions about DNA evidence, leading to a previous stay of execution in 2017. The current prosecutor in St. Louis County has also challenged Williams' guilt in a recent court hearing.
There is an ongoing appeal before the U.S. Supreme Court, and a clemency request has been submitted to Governor Mike Parson. The request emphasizes the wishes of Gayle's relatives, who are seeking a commutation of the sentence to life in prison without parole.
The National NAACP has urged Governor Parson to halt the execution, citing concerns about racial bias in Williams' case. If executed, Williams would be the third person put to death in Missouri this year and the 15th nationwide.
In 2017, then-Governor Eric Greitens granted a stay of execution after DNA evidence failed to link Williams to the crime scene. However, subsequent testing revealed that the DNA evidence had been compromised, leading to further legal proceedings.
Despite efforts to reach a plea agreement for a life sentence, the Missouri Supreme Court intervened and upheld Williams' death sentence. The case has also raised questions about the fairness of the jury selection process, with concerns about racial bias.
Prosecutors allege that Williams broke into Gayle's home, stabbed her multiple times, and stole items from the house. Testimony from a former cellmate implicating Williams has also been presented in court.
Williams' defense team has challenged the credibility of the witnesses, pointing to potential ulterior motives for their testimonies. The case has sparked a broader conversation about racial disparities in the criminal justice system.
The decision on Williams' fate now rests with Governor Parson, who has yet to grant clemency in any of the 11 executions that have taken place during his tenure.
