A Missouri death row inmate scheduled for execution in less than a week is asking the U.S. Supreme Court to intervene. CNN reports that Marcellus Williams, 55, received a first-degree murder conviction in 2001 for stabbing Felicia Gayle to death in her home in 1998.
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Missouri Death Row Inmate Asks For Halt On Execution
Despite the conviction, Marcellus Williams has always claimed his innocence in Felicia Gayle’s murder. Additionally, the U.S. Supreme Court argues that Williams faced unfair treatment of his legal rights during the lengthy process to prevent his execution.
However, if authorities finalize the decision to execute Williams, he will receive lethal injection on Sept. 24. According to AP, this would mark Missouri’s third execution this year and the 14th nationwide.
The NAACP is urging Governor Michael Parson to stop Marcellus’ execution, highlighting the death penalty’s historical racial disparities, especially in Missouri.
“Killing Mr. Williams, a Black man who was wrongfully convicted of killing a White woman, would amount to a horrible miscarriage of justice and a perpetuation of the worst of Missouri’s past,” NAACP President and CEO Derrick Johnson and Missouri State Conference President Nimrod Chapel Jr. wrote in a letter to Parson.
The St. Louis Prosecuting Attorney noted earlier this year that Marcellus’ original trial had constitutional errors, including the removal of a Black juror based on race.
Per CNN, Williams’ lawyers point out that former Missouri Gov. Eric Greitens indefinitely halted his execution and created a board to investigation his case for possible clemency.
“The Governor’s actions have violated Williams’ constitutional rights and created an exceptionally urgent need for the Court’s attention,” the court documents state.
More Details On Marcellus Williams Case
Police had no leads for 10 months after Felicia Gayle’s death until her husband, Dr. Daniel Picus offered a $10,000 reward. Then, Henry Cole contacted authorities, claiming Marcellus confessed to the murder while they were jailed together.
The Missouri Independent notes that the prosecution used unreliable informant testimony and circumstantial evidence against Marcellus Williams.
The outlet reveals that months later, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported Laura Asaro’s arrest for sex work. She claimed to have information about Gayle’s murder but later said she was trying to avoid arrest. After learning about the reward, she implicated Marcellus.
AP states that Prosecutor Wesley Bell challenged DNA evidence on the murder weapon while seeking a hearing on Marcellus’ guilt. He stated that the butcher knife used to kill Felicia Galye had someone else’s DNA, not Williams.’
Marcellus’ attorneys and Bell argued that mishandling the contaminated weapon, obscuring crucial DNA evidence could have helped to exonerate him.
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