United States: Marcellus Williams executed despite grave concerns about his conviction
CPJP is horrified by the news that the state of Missouri proceeded with the execution of Marcellus Williams on Tuesday 24 September 2024. This took place despite grave concerns – voiced by many people around the world – that Mr Williams was wrongfully convicted.
No justice system is free from error. This is one of the many reasons why the death penalty must be abolished in all jurisdictions. For Missouri to have proceeded with an execution when such doubts existed about the integrity of Mr Williams’ conviction is an unconscionable act.
In recognition of the lack of reliable evidence tying Mr Williams to the crime and serious concerns about the fairness of his trial, the prosecuting attorney in St Louis attempted to have his conviction overturned earlier this year. Mr Williams’ execution was also opposed by the family of Felicia Gayle, whose 1998 murder he was convicted of committing.
“Ms Gayle’s murderer left behind considerable physical evidence. None of that physical evidence can be tied to Mr Williams… New evidence suggests that Mr Williams is actually innocent.”
- Wesley Bell, prosecuting attorney for St. Louis County, Missouri
On 21 August 2024, Mr Williams and the prosecutors agreed to an Alford plea to spare his life, yet this was blocked by both the Missouri Attorney General’s Office and the Missouri Supreme Court. A last-minute appeal based on racial bias in the jury selection for his original case and an appeal to the governor for clemency were also denied.
In a statement released by the Innocence Project immediately prior to Mr Williams’ execution on Tuesday, his attorney said:
“…[w]e must all question any system that would allow this to occur. The execution of an innocent person is the most extreme manifestation of Missouri’s obsession with ‘finality’ over truth, justice, and humanity, at any cost… We are thankful to the St. Louis Prosecuting Attorney, for his commitment to truth and justice and all he did to try to prevent this unspeakable wrong... Tonight, we all bear witness to Missouri’s grotesque exercise of state power. Let it not be in vain. This should never happen, and we must not let it continue.”
- Tricia Rojo Bushnell, attorney for Mr Williams
Mr Williams was 55 years old when he was put to death by the state, having been on death row for 23 years. He was granted a reprieve just hours ahead of two previously scheduled executions in January 2015 and August 2017.
Mr Williams’ execution is one of three to have taken place in the USA since last week, with another two scheduled to occur within days. Freddie Owens was executed in South Carolina on Friday 20 September and Travis Mullis was executed in Texas, also on Tuesday 24 September. On Thursday 26 September, Alabama plans to execute Alan Miller, using the controversial method of nitrogen gas for the second time, while Oklahoma plans to execute Emmanuel Littlejohn.
Another man, Robert Roberson is set to be executed in Texas on Thursday 17 October. If his execution proceeds, the Innocence Project notes that Roberson would be the first person in the United States to be ‘executed based on the discredited “Shaken Baby Syndrome” hypothesis’. A clemency petition was filed on Tuesday 17 September, supported by over 30 scientists and doctors, 84 bipartisan Texas lawmakers and the lead detective on Roberson’s case, among others.