Missouri executes Marcellus Williams despite prosecutors’ push to overturn conviction
GuardianSEP 22 2024
Missouri Executes Marcellus Williams Amid Innocence Claims
Above: A law enforcement officer monitors from atop the Missouri State Capitol building on January 20, 2021 in Jefferson City, Missouri. Image copyright: Michael B. Thomas/Stringer/Getty Images News via Getty Images
The Facts
Marcellus Williams was executed by lethal injection in Missouri on Tuesday after the US Supreme Court denied a request to delay his execution.
Williams, who long maintained his innocence, was convicted in 1998 of stabbing Felicia Gayle 43 times during a burglary at her home in the St. Louis suburbs. The execution took place despite counsel from the office that prosecuted him 21 years ago expressing doubts about the case.
Recent DNA evidence suggested the murder weapon had been contaminated by prosecutors who handled it without gloves. The evidence, along with concerns about constitutional errors during the jury selection process, prompted St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney Wesley Bell to seek to overturn the conviction.
The Spin
Left narrative
In further evidence of the US' broken justice system, a potentially innocent man was executed. With both the prosecutor's office and the victim's family requesting that the execution be halted, there is no reason that this should have happened. Faulty DNA evidence and suggestions that racism may have played a part in the jury selection process cast doubts on Williams guilt that should have been explored.
Right narrative
Supporters of Williams are cherry-picking arguments from biased organizations like the Innocence Project. He was convicted of murder after a lengthy legal process, and no credible evidence had overturned his guilt, even after several appeals. The death penalty is a serious topic, but cut-and-dried cases like this shouldn't be thrown into the category of unjust executions.
Metaculus Prediction
Political split
LEFT
RIGHT
Sign Up for Our Free NewslettersSign Up for Our Free Newsletters
Sign Up!
Sign Up Now!