In a highly controversial case, Marcellus Williams, a 55-year-old Black man, was executed on Tuesday, September 24, 2024, in Missouri, despite DNA evidence casting doubt on his guilt. Williams was convicted in 2001 for the murder of Felicia Gayle, a former journalist, but had always maintained his innocence.
Recently, the top prosecutor in St. Louis County joined Williams’ attorneys in calling for his conviction to be overturned. This request came after new testimony from the prosecutor in the original trial and recent DNA testing revealed evidence contamination, raising serious concerns about the integrity of the conviction. Despite this, Missouri Governor Mike Parson refused to intervene, stating his “confidence in the justice system.”
The case has drawn attention to the inherent risks of capital punishment, with critics pointing out the potential execution of an innocent person. Since 1973, over 200 individuals sentenced to death in the U.S. have been exonerated, including four in Missouri, according to the Death Penalty Information Center.
In his final moments, Williams—who was a devout Muslim and served as an imam for fellow prisoners—expressed his faith with the words, “All Praise Be to Allah In Every Situation!!!” His last meal included chicken wings and tater tots, as confirmed by Karen Pojmann, spokesperson for the Missouri Department of Corrections.
This execution, despite new evidence and growing calls for justice reform, has sparked widespread condemnation from advocacy groups like the Innocence Project and NAACP, as well as billionaire Richard Branson, who called it a tragic failure of justice.
