Marcellus Williams, a 55-year-old inmate, was executed on September 24 for the 1998 murder of Felicia “Lisha” Gayle, who was brutally stabbed more than 40 times during a home invasion in St. Louis, Missouri. His execution by lethal injection occurred despite appeals for clemency from various individuals, including the prosecutor, Gayle's family, and British entrepreneur Richard Branson.
Branson had actively campaigned against the execution, stating, "He’s an innocent person," and highlighting that even the prosecuting council recommended mercy. In a blog post, Branson urged Missouri Governor Mike Parson to intervene, arguing that Williams’ conviction was based solely on unreliable testimonies from incentivized witnesses and that DNA evidence excluded him as the source of the male DNA found on the murder weapon.
Williams was one of five inmates scheduled for execution in the U.S. within a week, marking the highest number of executions in two decades. In his last meal, he chose chicken wings and tater tots and spent his final moments speaking with a spiritual advisor. After the lethal injection was administered, he showed no further movement.
His legal team had previously raised concerns about his trial, claiming that black jurors were improperly excluded and that there was no forensic evidence linking him to the crime. Despite over a million petitions requesting a stay of execution delivered to Governor Parson's office, and strong opposition from organizations like the NAACP, Williams’ appeals were swiftly rejected.
In a statement following the execution, Governor Parson expressed hope that it would provide closure for Gayle’s family. However, NAACP President Derrick Johnson criticized the event, stating, "Tonight, Missouri lynched another innocent Black man."
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