Court rejects prosecutor's request to overturn conviction and death sentence against Marcellus Williams

(September 12, 2024) Today, the District Court for St. Louis County, Missouri, denied District Attorney Wesley Bell's motion to overturn the conviction and death sentence of Marcellus Williams. District Attorney Bell filed the motion based on new DNA testing conducted on forensic evidence collected at the crime scene that conclusively excluded Mr. Williams as the 1998 murderer of Felicia Gayle. After reviewing the evidence of Mr. Williams' innocence and other constitutional errors in his trial, the court nevertheless determined that overturning was not warranted under Missouri law.

The court's judgment is available Here.

Mr Williams' execution is scheduled for September 24.

Below is a statement from Tricia Rojo Bushnell, an attorney for Marcellus Williams:

“A prosecutor's decision to overturn a murder conviction and death sentence is not one he makes lightly. Prosecutor Bell filed a motion because there is overwhelming evidence that the trial of Marcellus Williams was unconstitutional. This includes revelations that the state tampered with the most important piece of evidence in the case – the murder weapon.

“We will continue to pursue every possible option to prevent the wrongful execution of Mr. Williams. There is still time for the courts or Governor Parson to ensure that Missouri does not commit the irreparable injustice of executing an innocent man.”