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August 23, 2017

Missouri Gov. Stays Execution of Marcellus Williams After New DNA Evidence
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In Missouri, Governor Eric Greitens issued a last-minute stay of
execution for death row prisoner Marcellus Williams, only hours before
he was slated to be put to death Tuesday night.

The stay of execution came after DNA found on the murder weapon did not
match Williams, but instead matched another man. Williams, who is
African American, was convicted in 2001 of killing a former St. Louis
Post-Dispatch reporter Lisha Gayle, who is white, during a robbery.

He was convicted by 11 white jurors and one black juror, after the
prosecution was allowed to preemptively strike out six other prospective
black jurors. Williams has always maintained his innocence. Amnesty
International and other groups are now urging Missouri Governor Eric
Greitens to grant Marcellus Williams clemency.


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