Missouri prisoner Marcellus Williams faces execution, despite doubts about his guilt in the 1998 murder of Felicia Gayle. Pressure from activists and a clemency petition with over a million signatures have failed to sway Governor Mike Parson, who maintains that Williams’ conviction has been upheld by the courts. However, St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney Wesley Bell has called for a full hearing due to doubts about Williams’ guilt and concerns about the irreversible nature of the death penalty.
Support for Williams is growing as his execution date nears, with over 100,000 names added to the clemency petition in just one day. Activists from groups like the Innocence Project are planning solidarity events across the state, urging Parson to reconsider. Williams has filed a petition with the U.S. Supreme Court seeking a stay of execution, citing racial bias in jury selection and recent constitutional concerns raised by Bell.
This case parallels that of Richard Glossip, where a similar petition led to a stay of execution due to prosecutorial errors. Calls for justice and doubts about the fairness of Williams’ trial continue to echo, with many questioning the rush to execute a man who may be innocent. As the final hours tick away, the fate of Marcellus Williams hangs in the balance, with uncertainty and a plea for reconsideration from those who believe in his innocence.
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