Jakarta, CNN Indonesia —
Supreme Court of the State of Missouri, the united states of americarejected the appeal of Imam Marcellus Khalifah Williams, sentenced to death for the murder of a former journalist.
The imam was euthanized on Tuesday (24/9) at 18:00 local time or 06:00 WIB.
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Reported from CNNMissouri Gov. Mike Parson said Williams went through the entire legal process, including more than 15 trials, to prove his innocence.
However, neither the jury nor the court found any basis for the claim that the defendant was innocent.
“No jury or court, including the trial court, the appellate courts and the Supreme Court, found any basis for Williams’ claim of innocence. Ultimately, he was convicted and sentenced to death,” Parson said.
Marcellus Williams (55) was sentenced to death for the murder of Felicia Gayle, a former journalist found stabbed to death in her home in 1998.
Williams has maintained his innocence. His sentence was postponed in 2015 and 2017 to allow for additional DNA testing, because his DNA was not found on the knife used in the murders.
In January, St. Louis County prosecutors then requested a stay of execution on the grounds that DNA testing on the gun could invalidate Williams’ status as a suspect.
The motion was denied, however. DNA testing revealed that the weapon used had been contaminated by the investigators’ hands, tainting evidence that could have been used to exonerate Williams.
This also weakens the prosecutor’s argument and instead supports the court’s decision that there were no other perpetrators in this case.
The Williams case has long been in the spotlight due to concerns that it could potentially lead to the conviction of an innocent person. Additionally, the sentence handed down is the death penalty.
(blq/bac)
[Gambas:Video CNN]
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