There have been 13 executions this year in the US, there are 8 scheduled in the next month

There have been 13 executions carried out so far in 2024.  Between now and October 17, there are eight executions scheduled in five states. According to the Death Penalty information Center, there are three executions scheduled in Texas, two in Alabama and one in South Carolina, Missouri and Oklahoma.

There will be a flurry of activity as the execution dates get closer, judging by the latest decision out of Missouri it may not be good news for the condemned.

A judge in Missouri rejected inmate Marcellus Williams’ attempt to overturn a murder conviction and death sentence on the basis of updated DNA evidence. Circuit Judge Bruce F. Hilton stated in his rejection of the bid that “none of this evidence is ‘new’ as it was available at trial,” reported Jurist.

Williams’ legal team filed a motion to vacate his conviction and death sentence in January. The motion was filed to provide the court evidence that had not been available at trial. It included updated evidence from three experts concerning DNA found on the murder weapon. All three experts concluded the DNA was not from Williams. One expert stated, “DNA evidence now shows Mr. Williams did not likely wield the knife that was used.”

In rejecting the motion, Judge Hilton emphasized Missouri’s innocence analysis, the first step of which is determining “whether the new evidence is new in the sense that it was not available at trial.” He stated that the “new” DNA evidence was “consistent with the trial testimony,” citing testimony by an expert at the trial that the DNA could not conclusively be linked to Williams, and a crime scene report that stated that “the suspect wore gloves.”

Additionally, Judge Hilton rejected Williams’ claims of ineffective counsel, exclusion of evidence and racial prejudice. He stated the claims were “repackaged” arguments that had already been processed and rejected by previous courts.

Missouri’s Supreme Court upheld Williams’ conviction and death sentence in July. He must now apply to Missouri’s governor for executive clemency before his scheduled execution later this month.

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