Testimony began Wednesday in a pivotal hearing for Missouri inmate Marcellus Williams, who is scheduled to be executed and is seeking to have his 1998 murder conviction vacated. The hearing, before St. Louis County Circuit Judge Bruce Hilton, follows a motion by Prosecuting Attorney Wesley Bell to vacate the conviction due to new DNA evidence. Williams is set to be executed on September 24, and neither Gov. Mike Parson nor Attorney General Andrew Bailey has expressed a willingness to delay the process.

Williams, 55, was convicted for the 1998 murder of Lisha Gayle. However, DNA tests in 2017 revealed that DNA on the murder weapon did not match Williams, prompting then-Gov. Eric Greitens to stay the execution. Bell argues that this “never-before-considered evidence” coupled with ineffective counsel and racial bias at trial warrants a reevaluation of the conviction, noting Williams was sentenced by an almost all-white jury.

A 2021 Missouri law allows prosecutors to file motions to vacate convictions they believe are unjust, resulting in recent exonerations. Williams, the first death row inmate to have his case heard since the law was put in place, has garnered support from former death row inmate Joseph Amrine. Amrine emphasized the human cost, stating, “The state has nothing to gain by killing the wrong person.” (This story was generated by Newser’s AI chatbot. Source: the AP)

A theme of the Missouri Tigers’ fall camp for 2024 was open competition. Everyone, even proven, returning starters would have to prove they were deserving of their job.

The set of 17 practices wrapped up Saturday evening with an open practice at Faurot Field, one final chance for players to earn opportunities. Three young players in particular made the most of their opportunities this fall, possibly earning consistent roles on the team this year.

Watch the video below as Missouri football reporter Joey Van Zummeren breaks down the three players who worked their way up the depth chart this fall camp by stacking together impressive practices.

Welcome to Missouri Tigers On SI’s “Extra Point,” a video series featuring the site’s Missouri beat writers. Multiple times a week, the writers will provide analysis on a topic concerning the Tigers or the landscape of college sports.

Two of the surprising standouts were receivers Daniel Blood and Joshua Manning. Missouri’s receiver room is already stacked with talent so it will be an uphill battle for Blood and Manning to see the field too much but they took the right steps this fall.

Corner back Nic Deloach also proved himself this fall. After a freshman season where he was dealing with freshman nerves, he’s entering his sophomore season with more confidence and its showing.

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