Gov. Eric Greitens did the right thing on Tuesday by halting the scheduled execution of Marcellus Williams.
The condemned inmate was convicted of fatally stabbing former St. Louis Post-Dispatch reporter Lisha Gayle during a 1998 burglary at her suburban St. Louis home. He was scheduled to die by lethal injection at 6 p.m. Tuesday.
Greitens called off the execution after DNA testing raised questions about his guilt.
The Associated Press reported said the governor's decision came after Williams' attorneys cited DNA evidence found on the murder weapon that matched another unknown person, but not Williams. But St. Louis County prosecutor Bob McCulloch said there was ample other evidence to convict Williams, and that there's "zero possibility" he's innocent.
We agree that, regardless of the DNA evidence, there is ample other evidence to suggest his guilt.
The crime took place in the St. Louis suburb of University City on Aug. 11, 1998. In a court filing last week, Assistant Attorney General Michael Spillane said Williams broke a window in Gayle's house, then used a butcher knife to stab her 43 times before stealing her purse and her husband's laptop, the AP reported.
Spillane said Williams stole a jacket to conceal blood on his shirt, and that his girlfriend at the time questioned why he wore a jacket on such a hot day, and that the girlfriend also said she saw the laptop that he stole.
Williams has had his day in court. He's been convicted and exhausted his appeals.
But this is the death penalty. It's the ultimate punishment, and it's not reversible. When it is carried out, we need to be certain that it is a just punishment in every instance.
The Missouri Supreme Court already delayed Williams' execution to allow for the DNA testing.
Greitens said he will appoint a five-member board of inquiry made up of retired judges with subpoena power, the AP reported. The board will make a recommendation to the governor concerning whether the 48-year-old Williams should be executed. No timetable has been set.
Death penalty advocates and opponents argue as to whether Missouri has previously executed innocent people.
The governor said Missourians must have "confidence in the judgment of guilt." Right now, they don't.
More than 250,000 people have signed a petition asking for the execution to be halted. We don't believe that should be a major factor, as our justice system isn't based on polls or petitions.
But if there are any doubts about someone's guilt in a death penalty case, it's worth taking the time for one last review.