The Supreme Court of Missouri has declined to halt the dissolution of a board of inquiry that had been convened to investigate the innocence claim of death row inmate Marcellus Williams. Missouri Governor Mike Parson’s decision to dissolve the board was affirmed, with the court stating that the state constitution grants the governor exclusive authority over clemency decisions. For further details, see the full decision here.
Marcellus Williams was convicted in 1998 for the murder of social worker Lisha Gayle during a burglary. Prosecutors alleged that Williams gained entry through a window and then committed the murder. In crucial testimony, Williams’ cellmate claimed that Williams confessed to the murder (more information here). On the scheduled day of Williams’ execution in August 2017, then-Governor Eric Greitens halted the execution and established a board of inquiry to examine potential exculpatory DNA evidence.
Governor Parson’s subsequent dissolution of the board in 2023 led Williams to argue that his due process rights were breached. Specifically, he claimed that his rights to a complete review of his innocence claims and the constitutional separation of powers were violated. Nevertheless, the state’s Supreme Court denied the challenge, and Williams now faces an execution date set for September 24, 2024, at 6 pm.
The attorneys representing Williams expressed significant concern through a statement. They noted that the St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney believes there is clear and convincing evidence of Williams’ innocence. They also pointed out that no court has reviewed the critical DNA evidence that could exonerate Williams, urging that the focus on finality over innocence is a grave miscarriage of justice.
The Innocence Project outlines multiple reasons why Williams could be innocent: the exclusion of Williams’ DNA from the murder weapon, lack of court review of exculpatory DNA evidence, reliance on unreliable testimony, the absence of scientific or eyewitness evidence linking Williams to the crime, and Governor Greitens’ initial decision to stay the execution based on DNA results. The organization continues its efforts to prove Williams’ innocence before the impending execution date.