Missouri execution of man convicted of 1998 murder to proceed

An execution of a man found guilty of a 1998 murder is set to proceed Tuesday evening, Sept. 24, in Missouri, after the state’s supreme court and governor rejected requests to cancel the scheduled lethal injection.  A jury convicted Marcellus Williams of the stabbing death of Lisha Gayle , a social worker and former newspaper reporter, inside her suburban St. Louis home.

Williams has asserted his innocence.

His lawyers argued the state supreme court should halt the proceedings due to alleged procedural errors in jury selection and alleged mishandling of the murder weapon by the prosecution. The court rejected those arguments Monday, Sept. 23.

Missouri Governor Mike Parson also rejected a clemency request to switch the sentence to life in prison. Williams’ lawyers still have an appeal before the U.S. Supreme Court.

As of now, though, the execution — which would be the third in the state this year — is set for 6 p.m. CT Tuesday.

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