- United States
- N.Y.
- Letter
I am writing regarding the impending execution of Marcellus Williams, which is scheduled for TODAY at 6pm CST. Please do not let Missouri execute this innocent person, where there is overwhelming evidence that his trial was constitutionally unfair.
Missouri should not commit the irreparable injustice of executing an innocent person.
On July 2, the Circuit Court of St. Louis County, Missouri, scheduled a hearing for August 21, 2024, to assess the “clear and convincing evidence” of actual innocence that led Prosecuting Attorney Wesley Bell to move to vacate Mr. Williams’ wrongful conviction and death sentence. Sadly, on September 12, the Circuit Court for St. Louis County, Missouri denied Prosecuting Attorney Wesley Bell’s motion to vacate his conviction and death sentence.
There is no reliable evidence proving that Mr. Williams committed the crime for which he is scheduled to be executed. The State destroyed or corrupted the evidence that could conclusively prove his innocence and the available DNA and other forensic crime-scene evidence does not match him. Even the victim’s family believes life without parole is the appropriate sentence.
NOW is the time for Gov. Mike Parson to grant clemency and commute Mr. Williams’ sentence to life without parole, or, at a minimum, stay the execution for further appeals to be resolved. If he does not, blood is on all of our hands.
