US Missouri Imam’s last words before he was fatally shot: Alhamdulillah

Jakarta, CNN Indonesia —

Missouri Court, United Stateson the execution of the prosecutor and priest of the punishment in that state, Marcellus Khalifa Williams, Tuesday (24/9) at 18.00 local time or Wednesday morning at 06.00 WIB.

They were executed after the state Supreme Court rejected a Missouri priest’s appeal on death row for the murder of former journalist Felicia Gayle.

Khalifa Williams himself seemed to have retired a few days before he underwent a lethal injection. He even said his last words on September 21.

“Alhamdulillah, Praise be to Allah in all circumstances,” Khalifa Williams said at the time, as reported by CNN.

Khalifa Williams received a final visit from Imam Jalahii Kacem on Tuesday (24/9) from 11.00 to 12.30 local time.

He is known as a very pious Muslim and often gives advice to other inmates at the Missouri jail. Williams was even trusted to lead the congregation at the head as a prayer leader.

It was chicken wings and a stubborn cigarette several hours before his execution, according to a statement from Missouri corrections spokeswoman Karen Pojmann.

At 4:50 p.m., the Missouri Correctional Service received a letter stating that all appeals from the inmate had been rejected by the US Supreme Court.

An hour later, the family and a team of lawyers were moved to an observation area in the prison to see the case.

At exactly 18.00 local time, the Attorney General of the state of Missouri, Andrew Bailey, announced that there were no legal obstacles to his execution.

Williams’ lethal injection began at 18.01 and he was pronounced dead at 18.10 local time.

No one from the family of the late victim, Felicia Gayle, was present when the lethal injection was administered.

Outside the prison, hundreds of people demonstrated against the death penalty because the evidence was deemed insufficient.

Williams’ case has long been in the spotlight because of concerns about punishing people who have not been found guilty. Furthermore, the sentence imposed is the death penalty.

Khalifa Williams (55) was sentenced to death for allegedly killing Felicia Gayle, a former newspaper reporter who was found stabbed to death in her home in 1998.

Williams maintains his innocence. His sentence was suspended in 2015 and 2017 because he had to undergo additional DNA tests because his DNA was not found on the sharp weapon used in the murder.

In January, the St. Louis County attorney’s office then argued to dismiss the case, arguing that DNA testing on the weapon could invalidate Williams’ status as a suspect.

However, the motion was denied. DNA tests revealed that the weapon used was contaminated by the hands of the investigators, thus contaminating evidence that could have been used to exonerate Williams.

This also undermines the prosecutor’s argument and instead supports the court’s conclusion that there were no other perpetrators in this case.

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[Gambas:Video CNN]