Jefferson City, Missouri: Exoneree Press Conference 8/1
Media Advisory For
Thursday, August 1, 2024
Death Row Exonerees Condemn MO Attorney General’s Eagerness to Execute Innocent People, Ask for Innocence Hearing to Proceed for Marcellus ‘Khaliifah’ Williams
Advocates Will Hold a Press Conference on August 1 in Jefferson City, MO
Jefferson City, MO --- Death row exonerees led by Witness to Innocence, and representatives will gather on Thursday, August 1, 2024 in Jefferson City to call out Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey and his office for his callous attitude towards the possibility of executing an innocent person and for trying to block an August 21 hearing where a circuit court judge will consider DNA evidence that proves Marcellus “Khalifah” Williams is innocent. Mr. Williams is scheduled to be executed on September 24th.
Attendees will include death row exoneree Joseph Amrine, who was wrongfully convicted and sentenced to death in Missouri. Mr. Amrine served 17 years on death row before being exonerated. He is one of four death row exonerees from Missouri. According to the National Registry of Exonerations, Missouri has had 33 exonerations for the crime of murder since 1989.
The Missouri Attorney General’s Office argued in 2003 that Amrine should be executed even if the state’s highest court found him innocent. At the time, state Supreme Court Judge Laura Denvir Stith asked then-Assistant Attorney General Frank Jung: “Are you suggesting ... even if we find that Mr. Amrine is actually innocent, he should be executed?” Jung responded: “That’s correct, your honor.”[1]
The Missouri Attorney General’s Office continues to reject clear cases of wrongful conviction and to fight against efforts to release innocent people. Currently they seek an execution date for Mr. Williams, despite clear evidence of his innocence, including DNA evidence, and a request by St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney Wesley Bell to vacate Williams’ murder conviction. A hearing in the Williams case has been set for August 21, but the Attorney General has filed a motion with the Missouri Supreme Court seeking to block the innocence hearing.
The press conference will also include death row exoneree Herman Lindsey, who is the Executive Director of Witness to Innocence, an organization made up of death row exonerees.
WHAT: Press Conference with Death Row Exonerees and Innocence Advocates
WHEN: Thursday, August 1, 2024 at 11 a.m. local time.
WHERE: Capitol Rotunda, 201 W. Capitol Ave, Jefferson City, MO
LIVESTREAM will be available at: https://www.facebook.com/witnesstoinnocence
“The execution of an innocent person is an irreversible travesty that should never be accepted as an inevitable outcome,” said Herman Lindsey. “Marcellus ‘Khaliifah’ Williams deserves an opportunity to prove his innocence in court. No one should be rushing to kill an innocent man.”
“DNA evidence shows that Marcellus ‘Khaliifah’ Williams is likely innocent. The state has nothing to gain by killing the wrong person. I hope the Attorney General’s office can change their approach and acknowledge there are human beings impacted by their actions,” said Joseph Amrine.