AP: Gov. Mike Parson will allow panel to review death penalty case

ST. LOUIS (AP) – Missouri Gov. Mike Parson will allow a panel of five former judges to review the death penalty case of Marcellus Williams, whose guilt in the stabbing death of a former newspaper reporter has been called into question by DNA evidence.

The inquiry was initially ordered last year by then-Gov. Eric Greitens. Parson replaced his fellow Republican as governor in June after Greitens resigned amid investigations into an extramarital affair and his alleged use of a charity donor list for political purposes.

A spokeswoman for Parson on Monday confirmed the panel has been given the go-ahead to proceed.

Williams was convicted of killing former St. Louis Post-Dispatch reporter Lisha Gayle during a 1998 burglary. He was hours away from execution last August when Greitens stepped in and ordered the investigation.

(Copyright 2018 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

8/6/2018 2:57:49 PM (GMT -5:00)