Marcellus Williams put to death despite rejected appeals by SCOTUS on One America News Network
OAN Staff Blake Wolf
11:18 AM – Wednesday, September 25, 2024
Marcellus Williams, who was previously convicted for the brutal murder of Lisha Gayle in 1998, was put to death on Tuesday, despite the victim’s family and the prosecutor objecting to the death penalty.
Advertisement
The case of Williams, 55, garnered national media attention as he maintained his innocence while prosecutors attempted to appeal the death penalty sentencing due to “questionable jury selection” as well as the proven mishandling of evidence in the case.
“Marcellus Williams should be alive today. There were multiple points in the timeline when decisions could have been made that would have spared him the death penalty. If there is even the shadow of a doubt of innocence, the death penalty should never be an option. This outcome did not serve the interests of justice,” stated Wesley Bell, the chief prosecutor for St. Louis County.
The United States Supreme Court had denied multiple appeals to avoid executing Williams an hour ahead of his death.
“No jury nor court, including at the trial, appellate, and Supreme Court levels, have ever found merit in Mr. Williams’s innocence claims,” stated Missouri Governor Mike Parson.
“At the end of the day, his guilty verdict and sentence of capital punishment were upheld. Nothing from the real facts of this case have led me to believe in Mr. Williams’ innocence,” Parson continued.
Tricia Joe Bushnell, Williams’s attorney, released a statement following SCOTUS’ decision.
“Tonight, Missouri will execute an innocent man, Marcellus “Khaliifah” Williams,” she stated. “As dark as today is, we owe it to Khaliifah to build a brighter future. We are thankful to the St. Louis Prosecuting Attorney, for his commitment to truth and justice and all he did to try to prevent this unspeakable wrong. And for the millions of people who signed petitions, made calls, and shared Khaliifah’s story.”
Williams was charged back in 1999 for the first-degree murder of Gayle, which Williams was found guilty of in 2001. In the original trial, prosecutors argued that Williams broke into Gayle’s home in August of 1998 and stabbed her 43 times with a butcher knife, and then proceeded to steal her purse and her husband’s… [TRUNCATED]
Stay informed! Receive breaking news blasts directly to your inbox for free. Subscribe here. https://www.oann.com/alerts
Advertisements below
