ST. LOUIS (AP) Missouri Gov. Eric Greitens on Tuesday halted the scheduled execution of condemned inmate Marcellus Williams after DNA testing raised questions about whether he actually killed.
Just hours before Williams was to be put to death, the Republican governor said in an email that he was issuing a stay of execution. Williams was convicted of fatally stabbing former St. Louis Post-Dispatch reporter Lisha Gayle during a 1998 burglary at her suburban St. Louis home. Williams was to be executed Tuesday evening.
Greitens' decision comes after Williams' attorneys cited DNA evidence found on the murder weapon that matched another unknown person, but not Williams. But St. Louis County prosecutor Bob McCulloch said there was ample other evidence to convict Williams, and that there's "zero possibility" he's innocent.
"A sentence of death is the ultimate, permanent punishment," Greitens said in his statement. "To carry out the death penalty, the people of Missouri must have confidence in the judgment of guilt."
Greitens said he will appoint a five-member board of inquiry made up of retired judges with subpoena power. The board will make a recommendation to the governor concerning whether the 48-year-old Williams should be executed. No timetable has been set.
Looks like this isn't over. I wonder what sort of "ample evidence" they have.
Williams is black, the victim is white and Bob McCulloch looks like a racist asshole
Looks like this isn't over. I wonder what sort of "ample evidence" they have.
It's crazy that this is all you need to convict nowadays, especially if the jury is on your side.
Based on what I've read of the original case, he does have a lot against him. He had stuff from the house, he sold the laptop to a pawn shop, and the testimony from his cell mate included details not publically reported. The thing I'm unclear on is if they recovered any of the bloody clothing he supposedly had.Thank god-this was basically going to be murdering a clearly innocent man.
Based on what I've read of the original case, he does have a lot against him. He had stuff from the house, he sold the laptop to a pawn shop, and the testimony from his cell mate included details not publically reported. The thing I'm unclear on is if they recovered any of the bloody clothing he supposedly had.
Also seems like the dude had life in prison regardless due to prior crimes (unless I'm missing something).
I am too. He's pretty sadistic.Surprised that monster Greitens would even attempt something like this.
Is this the same guy from the other thread that got posted a couple weeks back?
I've read that both the inmate and ex both received a nice sum of reward money from the family for going to police. Should that not cast some doubt on their testimony?Plus, the testimony against him by an unconnected cell mate from an unrelated jailing, and his girlfriend at the time was pretty damning (basically the guy seemingly disclosed or confessed to his alleged role in the murder to both, and they both came forward to the police..
I've read that both the inmate and ex both received a nice sum of reward money from the family for going to police. Should that not cast some doubt on their testimony?
I've read that both the inmate and ex both received a nice sum of reward money from the family for going to police. Should that not cast some doubt on their testimony?
There is a question whether or not that was sufficiently established by his defense at trial, but it probably was outweighed by the fact that both witnesses knew things that were not publicly reported but were known by the authorities.