A Missouri man convicted of murder will not be put to death tonight after Gov. Eric Greitens ordered a review of his case amid new DNA evidence.
"A sentence of death is the ultimate, permanent punishment," Greitens said in a statement. "To carry out the death penalty, the people of Missouri must have confidence in the judgment of guilt. In light of new information, I am appointing a Board of Inquiry in this case."
The execution of Marcellus Williams, 48, had been scheduled for 7 p.m. ET. He was convicted in the death of Felicia Gayle, 42, a former reporter for the St. Louis Post-Dispatch newspaper who was stabbed 43 times inside her home in August 1998.
Williams' lawyers say newly acquired evidence shows Williams' DNA was not found on the murder weapon, though DNA from another male was found.
That evidence was not available when Williams went to trial in 2001, court documents say. Williams maintains his innocence and says he was convicted on the testimony of individuals who were themselves convicted felons.
However, the Missouri Attorney General's Office had argued the execution should be carried out, saying the DNA evidence doesn't overcome non-DNA evidence that connects Williams to the crime.
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