US: Marcellus Williams executed despite pleas from prosecution and defence

Missouri has carried out the execution of a man found guilty of murder, who insisted he was innocent for over twenty years. This happened despite last-minute requests from lawyers on both sides to postpone the execution.

Marcellus Williams, 55, was already facing a long prison term for burglary when he was found guilty in 2001 of murdering Felicia Gayle. Felicia, a social worker and former local newspaper reporter, was brutally stabbed to death in her home in 1998.

He faced charges based on statements from two informants, whom his lawyers argue are not trustworthy.

There were hopes that his conviction might be reversed when DNA analysis from the murder weapon showed it didn't match Mr. Williams. However, it later came to light that the weapon had been improperly handled, and some of the DNA traces actually belonged to police and prosecutors, which weakened its potential to clear his name.

Mr. Williams was scheduled to be executed in 2017, but right before it was set to happen, Missouri's then-governor Eric Greitens intervened. He created a group of five retired judges to evaluate the details of his case.

Last year, Governor Mike Parson, who is also a Republican and the successor to Mr. Greitens, disbanded the panel before it could present its findings. He also turned down pleas to offer clemency to Mr. Williams.

Earlier this year, prosecutors in the area teamed up in legal actions to help Mr. Williams avoid execution, requesting a court to overturn his death penalty. He was presented with a plea agreement that would have changed his sentence to life in prison, and he agreed to it. Unfortunately, the Missouri Supreme Court intervened and prevented the plea deal from being accepted, ultimately deciding that the execution should proceed.

The Supreme Court of the United States turned down a last-minute request with a vote of 6-3, highlighting the conservative leanings of the court.

In a statement released yesterday, the Innocence Project expressed: "This evening, Missouri carried out the execution of an innocent individual. We extend our condolences to the family and friends of Marcellus Williams and Felicia Gayle, who have endured tremendous pain and suffering."

It stated: "Mr. Williams' experience is similar to that of many others trapped in our flawed criminal justice system. As a Black man accused of murdering a white woman, he insisted on his innocence right up until the final moments."

His guilty verdict relied on the statements of two eyewitnesses who received payment for their accounts. There was no DNA evidence connecting him to the offense.

The current Prosecuting Attorney for St. Louis County has recognized that mistakes made by the trial prosecutors, such as mismanaging the murder weapon and deliberately excluding Black potential jurors in violation of constitutional rights, played a role in leading to an unjust conviction.

Despite this, the Missouri Attorney General's Office continued to push for Mr. Williams' execution and resisted any requests for clemency. The Attorney General and Missouri Governor Mike Parson, who ultimately rejected the clemency request, overlooked the expressed wishes of the victim’s husband, who has always been clear about his opposition to the death penalty in Mr. Williams' case.

We deeply appreciate all those who stood with us in our quest for justice.

As Thurgood Marshall, a Justice of the United States Supreme Court who dedicated his efforts to defending Black men on death row before joining the court, famously stated: “America must improve, because it simply has no option but to improve.”