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So I used to represent death row inmates in their last chances appeals, federal habeas corpus actions.
Today marks the 4th anniversary of the night I witnessed the execution of my client and friend, Marcel Wayne Williams.
These are my words I wrote the next day, my birthday.
Today marks the 4th anniversary of the night I witnessed the execution of my client and friend, Marcel Wayne Williams.
These are my words I wrote the next day, my birthday.
After parceling out some odd items and other small things to other inmates, and setting aside a very small box of letters, these are all the earthly possessions Marcel had left, and I am honored that he entrusted them to me.
To me, he left his rosary and an MP4 player (in a case made by another death row inmate). To one of my colleagues, he left his sweatshirt that he had just gotten that morning because it was cold in the death house.
On his final day, he spent the money in his account buying food and drinks for both himself and Jack Jones (who had no money) so they could have a "party" and take their minds off things. (This night was a “double header” execution; Arkansas set 8 executions in 11.)
He received last rights shortly after changing into his clean, pressed “execution whites.”Father Harris was the chaplain there with us. Marcel had not missed a mass with him in 20 years. The three of us sat and talked for hours like it was a normal day.
I told Father Harris I was a lapsed Catholic. He said without judgment “we all lapse sometimes.” I asked the guards if I could give him a last hug before they took him away but was told no. So I reached through the bars and grasped his hand a last time before we were rushed away.
Marcel was making everyone laugh literally until the end. We laughed and cried (mostly me crying, although i pretty well held it together until the end). I had no idea what to do or say in this situation. So we just talked. He comforted ME.
He could even be heard laughing and joking with his own execution team, most of whom he knew well. It was a solemn occasion, but he managed to break the tension and put everyone else at ease about what they had to do - kill him.
It's an experience that I know he wanted to avoid, but that he was ultimately ready for nonetheless. He was searingly remorseful for the things that he did over 20 years ago and has worked since then to become the positive, inspiring person that I came to know over the last year.
I wish we could have saved him. I wish I would be getting a birthday call from him today. I turned 32 on my way home from the prison. A reminder that life goes on. Marcel should have been one of the ones that lived. He had so much left to give.
