Prosecutor Seeks to Overturn Death Row Conviction Based on New DNA Evidence

St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney Wesley Bell uses Missouri law to intervene in the case of Marcellus Williams, citing DNA evidence that supports Williams' claim of innocence.

• St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney Wesley Bell is seeking to overturn the conviction of Marcellus Williams, who has been on death row since 2001 for a murder he claims he did not commit.
• DNA testing of the murder weapon revealed male DNA that did not belong to Williams, supporting his claim of innocence.
• Prosecutors are using a Missouri law that allows them to intervene in cases when they have information that the convicted person may be innocent.
• Williams narrowly escaped execution in 2017 when then-Governor Eric Greitens halted the process and ordered an investigation based on the new DNA evidence.
• Williams' case is still pending as Bell's office and Williams' lawyers have asked the Missouri Supreme Court to delay setting an execution date.

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