US: Marcellus Williams executed despite pleas from prosecution and defence

Marcellus Williams, 55, was already serving a prolonged jail sentence for housebreaking offences when he was convicted in 2001 of the homicide of Felicia Gayle, a social employee and former reporter for a neighborhood newspaper who was stabbed to demise in her residence in 1998.

He was charged on the idea of testimony from two informants who his attorneys declare are unreliable.

Hopes had been raised that his conviction could be overturned after evaluation of DNA discovered on the homicide weapon discovered it didn’t match Mr Williams. Nonetheless, it was subsequently established that the weapon had been mishandled and a number of the DNA belonged to police and prosecutors, undermining its skill to exonerate him.

Mr Williams was beforehand set to be executed in 2017, however was granted a last-minute keep of execution by Missouri’s then-governor Eric Greitens, who established a panel of 5 retired judges to evaluate his case.

The panel was dissolved final yr by Mr Greitens’ successor, Governor Mike Parson – a fellow Republican – earlier than it might submit its conclusions. He rejected requests to grant clemency to Mr Williams.

Earlier this yr, native prosecutors joined authorized efforts to save lots of Mr Williams’ life, asking a courtroom to vacate his demise sentence. He was supplied and accepted a plea deal which might have seen his sentence diminished to life imprisonment. Nonetheless, the plea deal was blocked by the Missouri Supreme Court docket, which ordered the execution to go forward.

A final-minute attraction to the Supreme Court docket of america was rejected by judges in a 6-3 vote, reflecting the courtroom’s conservative majority.

In a press release issued yesterday, the Innocence Challenge stated: “Tonight, Missouri executed an harmless man. Our hearts are with the household and buddies of Marcellus Williams and Felicia Gayle, who’ve suffered unimaginable loss and trauma.”

It added: “Mr Williams’ story echoes that of too many others caught in our nation’s damaged felony authorized system. A Black man convicted of killing a white girl, Mr Williams maintained his innocence till the very finish.

“His conviction was based mostly on the testimony of two eyewitnesses who had been paid for his or her testimony. No DNA proof linked him to the crime.

“And the present St Louis County Prosecuting Legal professional acknowledged that errors made by the trial prosecutors – together with mishandling the homicide weapon and deliberately excluding Black potential jurors in violation of the Structure – contributed to a wrongful conviction.

“Nonetheless, the Missouri Legal professional Normal’s Workplace relentlessly pursued Mr. Williams’ execution and opposed clemency. The Legal professional Normal and Missouri Governor Mike Parson – who in the end denied the request for clemency – ignored the needs of the sufferer’s husband who has constantly made clear that he opposed the demise penalty for Mr Williams.

“We’re profoundly grateful to everybody who joined our battle for justice.

“As United States Supreme Court docket Justice Thurgood Marshall – who, earlier than his appointment to the courtroom, additionally fought for the lives of Black males condemned to demise – as soon as stated: ‘America can do higher, as a result of America has no alternative however to do higher.’”