Attorney General Bailey Opposes Marcellus Williams’s Consent Judgment and Shines Light on New DNA Evidence

Attorney General Bailey Opposes Marcellus Williams's Consent Judgment and Shines Light on New DNA Evidence

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. - Today, Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey announced new evidence came to light proving his office's assertion that the DNA on the knife in the Marcellus Williams case was a match for a member of law enforcement who had handled the knife during trial. The St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney's Office wrongfully asserted the DNA evidence would prove Marcellus Williams did not commit the murder because it would be a match for a mystery killer.

"I am proud of how hard we have fought for the rule of law in this case. Throughout all the legal games, the defense created a false narrative of innocence in order to get a convicted murderer off of death row and fulfill their political ends. Because of the defense's failure to do their due diligence by testing the evidence that supposedly proved their point, the victims have been forced to relive their horrific loss for the last six years," said Attorney General Bailey. "The victims in this case deserve better. Missourians deserve better."

1. In this case, a new round of DNA testing proved the Attorney General's Office was right all along: the knife in question has been handled by many actors, including law enforcement, since being found. This was proven correct by the defense's own DNA evidence, which proved an investigator handled the knife at trial without wearing gloves. In addition, one of the defense's own experts previously testified he could not rule out the possibility that Williams's DNA was also on the knife. He could only testify to the fact that enough actors had handled the knife throughout the legal process that others' DNA was present.

1. In addition, all the evidence the jury relied on to convict the defendant remains intact. The victim's personal items were found in Williams's car after the murder. A witness testified that Williams had sold the victim's laptop to him. All of the evidence in question was available at trial.

1. Instead of taking the opportunity to prove his innocence at the hearing scheduled for today, Williams will plead guilty to a crime he claims he did not commit. No innocent man is willing to spend the rest of his life in prison unless he knows he is guilty.

Attorney General Bailey concluded, "The juries of the State of Missouri under the Sixth Amendment have a right to participate in the process, and someone needs to assert the jury's determination in the legal process. Too often, people forget about all of the evidence that was used to convict the defendant - the evidence the jury relied on - and the victims. The public has been deceived every step of the way. That is why the truth of this matter must get out."

The new DNA evidence can be viewed here.