Tuesday, Missouri executed Marcellus Williams over the objections of the local prosecutor and against the wishes of the murdered victim’s spouse. Earlier this year, the St. Louis County prosecutor filed a motion to overturn the conviction, citing a lack of credible evidence, ineffective trial counsel and racial discrimination in jury selection. William Brangham discussed more with Jonathan Potts.
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Geoff Bennett: Last night, the state of Missouri executed 55-year-old Marcellus Williams over the objections of the local prosecutor and against the wishes of the murdered victim’s spouse.
Williams was convicted of the 1998 murder of Felicia Gayle, who was stabbed more than 40 times in her home in suburban St. Louis.
As William Brangham explains, Williams maintained his innocence throughout decades of incarceration.
William Brangham: Geoff, no physical evidence ever linked Marcellus Williams to that crime scene, and there was only one Black person the jury that convicted him.