The state of Missouri is slated to execute Marcellus Williams on Tuesday. Convicted of killing Post-Dispatch reporter Felicia Gayle more than 25 years ago, Williams was sentenced to death in 2001. He has maintained his innocence.
In 2015, after new DNA testing was conducted on the knife used to kill Gayle, it became clear that the DNA on the knife did not match Williams's DNA. This prompted serious questions about the integrity of the conviction. If Williams did not handle the murder weapon, how could he have been the one who committed the crime?
When I was elected St. County Prosecutor, I took an oath to ensure that justice is served in every case that comes before my office. My duty is not only to the victims of crimes but also to the integrity of the justice system, of which the fundamental principle is our commitment to due process and the protection of individual rights.
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Confronted with compelling evidence that fundamentally undermines the case against Marcellus Williams, it would be a grave mistake to proceed with his execution without fully addressing these concerns.
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Beyond the issues regarding the evidence, we must also consider the severity and permanence of the very punishment that Williams is faced with: death. The legitimacy of our state’s death penalty law is predicated on establishing the guilt of the sentenced beyond a shadow of a doubt.
For those who support the death penalty to have any legitimacy, the irreversible nature of this punishment demands the utmost caution before carrying out an execution. Once carried out, a death sentence cannot be undone. If we later find that a mistake was made, there is no way to bring that person back. This finality is precisely why Missouri law requires absolute certainty of a person’s guilt before imposing such a punishment. In the case of Marcellus Williams, that certainty simply does not exist.
My office is working tirelessly to prevent the execution of Marcellus Williams with the support of counsel from Lathrop GPM. We've filed motions and collaborated with defense attorneys to ensure that every piece of evidence is scrutinized. We are urging the courts and the governor to halt this irreversible action. We are committed to pursuing every legal avenue available to us, advocating for truth and fairness in this critical moment.
Our justice system is not infallible. We have seen too many instances where individuals have been wrongfully convicted, only to be exonerated years or even decades later. While those cases often end in the release of the wrongfully convicted, the execution of an innocent person is a stain on our legal system that can never be erased.
Missouri Gov. Mike Parson has heard from several voices urging him to halt Marcellus Williams’ execution. I continue to lend my voice to that chorus. Even the family of Felicia Gayle — who remain convinced of Marcellus Williams' guilt — has said they would rather see him spend the rest of his life in prison without the possibility of parole.
The doubts in his case are too significant, the DNA evidence too compelling, and the consequences of an irreversible error too grave.
Instead, we need to continue to review the case, consider the new evidence, and ensure that justice is truly served — not just for the victim and her family, but for all Missourians who trust in the fairness and integrity of our legal system.
The death penalty, with all its finality, demands a standard of certainty that, in this case, has not been met. The state of Missouri must choose the path of compassion, caution, and most importantly, justice.