ST. LOUIS – Marcellus Williams will return to court soon in a pivotal hearing that could determine his fate. Williams was convicted and sentenced to death in the 1998 stabbing death of Lisha Gayle, a former social worker and St. Louis Post Dispatch reporter.
The Missouri Supreme Court scheduled William’s execution for Sept. 24, despite a hearing on Aug. 21 for new DNA evidence that could prove his innocence. The activist group Missourians to Abolish the Death Penalty, led by advocates like Michelle Smith, is now fighting to stop it.
“As the test he did in 2015 and 2016, he conclusively said it denied Marcellus’ DNA, then that is not something that aligns with the state’s position, right? So, there is something they are trying to downplay and trying to keep out of court,” Smith said. “Thankfully, within the process with the St. Louis County Prosecutor and Marcellus’ legal team, they have been able to secure a court date.”
Williams has spent 23 years on death row, proclaiming his innocence. A motion filed to overturn the conviction by St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney Wesley Bell says the forensic evidence found at the crime scene, including fingerprints, footprints, and DNA on the murder weapon, does not match Williams.