Wrongfully convicted individuals urge Missouri Republican attorney general to cease opposing innocence claims

Exonerees and advocates in Missouri are expressing concern over the imminent execution of Marcellus Williams, despite ongoing efforts by the local prosecutor to overturn his murder conviction. Scheduled to be executed on September 24, Williams was set to have a hearing on August 21 to determine his innocence, but the Republican Attorney General Andrew Bailey’s office attempted to halt the proceedings, citing previous rejections of Williams’ innocence claims by the state Supreme Court.

Members of Witness to Innocence, including co-founder Ray Krone and executive director Herman Lindsey, called on Bailey to reconsider his stance and support those with strong innocence claims, like Williams. They highlighted the importance of admitting mistakes and doing the right thing, rather than pridefully pushing for the execution of potentially innocent individuals.

Amid these appeals, Bailey, who is vying for the Republican nomination for reelection, emphasized the importance of respecting the jury’s decision and honoring the victims in such cases. St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney Wesley Bell had filed a motion earlier this year to vacate Williams’ conviction based on new DNA evidence, made possible by a 2021 Missouri law allowing for such actions if innocence is believed.

Williams, originally convicted in 1998 for the stabbing death of Lisha Gayle, was granted a reprieve in 2017 due to DNA evidence showing another individual’s DNA on the murder weapon. However, like Williams, other individuals claiming innocence have faced opposition from Bailey’s office, including cases involving Lamar Johnson, Sandra Hemme, and Christopher Dunn, who were eventually released after long legal battles.

Critics argue that Bailey’s tough stance on crime and resistance to overturning convictions may be driven by political motivations to appear strong on law and order, particularly in the lead-up to a challenging primary election.