Important developments in the cases of innocent prisoners on death row

On Monday, July 3^rdwas the 200th acquittal from death row announcedBut an unknown number of prisoners who claim their innocence remain on death row and are unable to seek redress, either because they do not have access to competent legal representation for their appeal, because they are denied access to courts due to procedural hurdles, or because the Mandatory representatives. Execution dates have been set for some of these prisoners. There have been significant developments recently in three cases where strong claims of innocence were made: Marcellus Williams in Missouri, Robert Roberson in Texas, and Rodney Reed in Texas.

Marcellus Williams, who was convicted and sentenced to death for the murder of Felicia Gayle in 1998 in St. Louis, Missouri, is intended for execution in September 2024, although DNA evidence excludes him from the possible perpetrators. The court before Mr. Williams scheduled an evidentiary hearing for August 21 at the request of St. Louis County District Attorney (DA) Wesley Bell. 2024 to verify his claims that he is innocent and should not be executed. In January 2024 submitted an application to overturn Mr. Williams’ conviction after his office reviewed the case and determined that there was “clear and convincing evidence” of Mr. Williams’ innocence. DA Bell noted that no DNA from Mr. Williams was found on the murder weapon and other evidence testing further excluded him from the possible perpetrators.

In Texas, Robert Roberson remains on death row for causing the death of his daughter due to “shaken baby syndrome.” On July 1, a Texas court set October 17 as the execution date. 2024 for Mr. Roberson, despite new scientific and medical evidence refuting the SBS theory. Mr. Roberson maintains his innocence in the death of his daughter Nikki, who at the time of her death had “severe, undiagnosed” pneumonia that resulted in respiratory failure. Instead of diagnosing Nikki with pneumonia, doctors prescribed her medication that is no longer given to young children because it further suppresses breathing. Mr. Roberson’s lawyers claim that Nikki’s death was “a tragic, premature death of a sick child whose disabled, impoverished father did not know how to explain, which has baffled the medical community for decades.”

Despite new scientific evidence supporting the theory that Nikki was not a victim of child abuse, the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals (TCCA) denied Mr. Roberson a retrial in 2023. At the time, prosecutors argued that the evidence supporting Mr. Roberson’s conviction was “clear and compelling” and that the science surrounding SBS had not changed to the extent that defense attorneys claim. During Mr. Roberson’s trial, prosecutors presented testimony from a child abuse expert who has since partially recanted his testimony against Mr. Roberson.

On July 2, 2024, the United States Supreme Court denied the motion of Rodney Reed, another Texas death row inmate who maintained his innocence, to review his claim that prosecutors illegally suppressed evidence that helped his defense during his 1998 capital trial. By denying Mr. Reed’s motion, the court allowed the TCCA’s decision to deny him a new trial to stand. Although Mr. Reed will not be granted a new trial due to prosecutorial misconduct, the Supreme Court ruled in April 2024 that his motion for further DNA testing of evidence could be considered. Mr. Reed’s attorneys believe DNA testing of evidence from the crime scene will identify another person as the perpetrator of the murder. Following the court’s “very shocking and very disappointing” decision, Sandra Reed, Mr. Reed’s mother, said that “we, the Reed family, remain optimistic and we will continue to fight.”