Both the Missouri Supreme Court and the state’s GOP Gov. Mike Parson denied requests from an inmate seeking to delay his scheduled execution.
Marcellus Williams, aged 55, is facing lethal injection on Tuesday at 6 p.m. for the murder of Lisha Gayle, a social worker and former reporter, who was stabbed over 40 times during a burglary at her St. Louis home in 1998. Williams has consistently proclaimed his innocence.
Parson dismissed Williams’ clemency plea and upheld the death penalty, refusing to commute the sentence to life in prison. The state Supreme Court also turned down a request to pause the execution for further review of jury selection issues and the handling of the murder weapon.
During arguments before the state Supreme Court, Williams’ attorney raised concerns about procedural errors in jury selection and alleged mishandling of evidence. The court unanimously upheld the lower court’s decision rejecting Williams’ claims.
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Marcellus Williams, 55, is set to be executed by lethal injection Tuesday at 6 p.m. (Missouri Department of Corrections via AP)
“Despite nearly a quarter-century of litigation in both state and federal courts, there is no credible evidence of actual innocence or any showing of a constitutional error undermining confidence in the original judgment,” Judge Zel Fischer wrote in the state ruling.
Williams’ legal team has also appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court, with the case currently awaiting a decision.
Parson maintained that there was no compelling evidence to suggest Williams’ innocence and criticized attempts to discredit DNA evidence that had already been rejected by the courts.
The governor emphasized that he had not granted clemency in any death penalty case and would uphold the Supreme Court’s decision.
Prosecutor Wesley Bell sought to challenge Williams’ conviction, stating that doubts about his guilt should preclude his execution. Bell plans to escalate the case to the U.S. Supreme Court.
“For those who oppose the death penalty, uncertainty about a defendant’s guilt should rule out the irreversible punishment of execution,” Bell stated.
Midwest Innocence Project attorney Tricia Bushnell raised concerns about the imminent execution of an innocent man, questioning the integrity of the justice system.
During his trial, prosecutors alleged that Williams broke into Gayle’s home in 1998, leading to her brutal murder. Evidence pointed to Williams attempting to conceal incriminating evidence and confessing to the crime while in jail on separate charges.
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Joseph Amrine, who was exonerated two decades ago after spending years on death row, speaks at a rally to support Missouri death row inmates Marcellus Williams on Aug. 21, 2024, in Clayton, Missouri. (AP)
This will be the third time Williams faces execution.
In January 2015, his execution was postponed for further DNA testing, and in August 2017, then-Gov. Eric Greitens halted the execution for further review by a panel of retired judges. Despite these delays, Williams’ execution is now imminent.
The emergence of issues with DNA evidence has prompted renewed scrutiny of Williams’ case, with ongoing legal battles seeking to stop his execution. Concerns over potential racial bias in jury selection have also complicated the proceedings.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
