DA Held Murder Weapon Without Wearing Gloves

Long before the 2001 trial of Marcellus Williams for the murder of Felicia Anne Gayle Picus, then-St. Louis County Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Keith Larner dismissed the importance of the murder weapon, a butcher knife, as evidence. Larner defended his actions during a recent hearing to overturn Williams’s conviction, claiming the knife was “worthless” due to lack of forensic links to the crime.

Williams, who is facing execution, continues to maintain his innocence. Recent DNA testing excluded him from handling the murder weapon, leading to efforts to vacate his conviction. Larner’s potential mishandling of the crucial evidence has become a central point in the case, with county prosecutor Wesley Bell arguing for a new trial due to contamination.

Larner’s handling of the case and the murder weapon has come under scrutiny, with questions raised about the credibility of informants and potential racial bias in jury selection. The outcome of the hearing to overturn Williams’s conviction lies in the hands of Judge Hilton, with a decision expected before Williams’s scheduled execution date.