The Missouri Supreme Court has scheduled the execution of Marcellus Williams for September 24, despite pending hearings on his innocence claim.
This decision came shortly after the court affirmed that Governor Mike Parson had the authority to disband a board of inquiry set up by his predecessor to investigate Williams’ case.
Williams, 55, was convicted of the 1998 murder of Lisha Gayle during a robbery at her home near St. Louis.
His execution was previously halted in 2017 by then-Governor Eric Greitens due to new DNA evidence indicating the presence of another individual’s DNA on the murder weapon.
In January, St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney Wesley Bell filed a motion to vacate Williams’ conviction, citing the new DNA evidence.
However, a hearing for this motion has not yet been scheduled.
Governor Parson dissolved the inquiry board in June 2023 after it failed to reach a conclusion.
Following this, Attorney General Andrew Bailey requested the Supreme Court to set an execution date.
The Midwest Innocence Project sued on behalf of Williams, arguing that Greitens’ order required a report and recommendation from the inquiry board, which Parson never received.
Nevertheless, the Supreme Court ruled that the governor has exclusive authority to grant or deny clemency, and that Williams has no right to the board of inquiry process.
Williams’ legal team, alongside Prosecutor Bell, remains committed to proving his innocence. Bell’s office is still reviewing the Supreme Court’s recent actions.
Williams was accused of breaking into Gayle’s home on August 11, 1998, and stabbing her 43 times.
Prosecutors claimed he stole items and later sold them.
Witnesses included Williams’ girlfriend and a fellow inmate, both of whom were convicted felons and allegedly motivated by a reward.
