Missouri's top court hinders execution halt deal for death-row prisoner asserting innocence
The higher court has commanded the lower tribunal to annul the consent agreement and conduct the initial evidential hearing as per the original schedule. Consequent findings must be delivered by September 13, unless compelling reasons are presented for not doing so.
Williams has consistently asserted his innocence in the 1998 murder of Felicia Gayle, a former journalist for the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, who was discovered brutally stabbed in her University City residence. He was slated for execution on September 24.
A life sentence was agreed upon on Wednesday, following Williams' entrance of an Alford plea, which consequently enables a defendant to preserve their assertion of innocence while recognizing that trial would not yield a favorable outcome given the compelling evidence against them.
The decisive turning point leading to this Wednesday settlement was the revelation of recently conducted DNA testing results – a report submitted by the Missouri Attorney General's Office on Monday, just prior to the crucial hearing – which unearthed evidence mishandling complications, casting doubt on Williams' alleged innocence, according to AP reports.
This story remains in progress and will be revised accordingly.
Despite the DNA testing results and the doubts they raised, the legal team for Williams strongly advocated for us to stand firm on his claim of innocence. Regardless of the court's decision, our commitment to securing justice for Williams remains unwavering.
