DNA evidence don dey show since say Marcellus Williams no suppose dey behind bars for the murder of Felicia Gayle. But as September 24 execution date dey near, di mata just dey twist join turn. Wesley Bell, di St. Louis Prosecuting Attorney, bin petition earlier dis year to stop di execution based on di 2000 murder conviction.
Since 1998, Williams, wey be grandfather wey dem dey call “Khaliifah,” dey maintain say he no kill person. But Missouri’s Attorney General, Andrew Bailey, still dey push make dem carry out di execution. Weekend don reach, arguments dey fly for di Missouri Supreme Court to appeal di earlier decision of di circuit judge to uphold Williams’ conviction. Williams’ lawyers dey argue say, di former trial prosecutor admit say im unfairly dismiss Black jurors, e suppose fit invalidate di conviction. But di attorney general office say na lie.
For September, Missouri Supreme Court judges stick to their decision to keep Williams on death row, despite di appeal wey never clear for U.S. Supreme Court. Another palava na di issue of clemency wey dem reject again before di end of di day.
Advocates don dey use Williams’ case show how justice dey tend dey balance for Missouri. Di state dey normally seen as one kind for dey use death penalty, especially for Black and poor people, e dey like as e be for di South, according to Michelle Smith, wey co-found one organization.
For statistics, out of 55 wrongful convictions for Missouri, majority na Black people dem, including Williams. Na part of wetin National Registry of Exonerations show. And recently, Williams case don dey used as example of how death penalty cases dey “declined” but dem never stop am completely.
Di execution dey set for Tuesday, and advocates dey push dia last attempts to stop am. Williams don dey used to dis drama, and his advocates wey dey support him no dey give up. Him bin sabi reach out to other prisoners and dey act as mentor.
Governor Mike Parson confirm say di State of Missouri dey set to carry out di execution of Marcellus Williams as di Supreme Court don order. Parson tok say nobody find Williams innocent, despite many attempts to overturn him conviction and wetin media and supporters dey talk. Di judicial system, according to Parson, dey rightly convict am.
