Death penalty

Jefferson City, Mo. – The Missouri Supreme Court ruled the Governor has the authority to rescind an executive order issued by the former governor that stayed a death row inmate’s execution. The inmate was sentenced to death for the murder of a former reporter, but DNA evidence has since excluded him as the owner of DNA found on the murder weapon, and there is no physical evidence tying him to the crime. Nevertheless, the Missouri Constitution grants the governor the exclusive authority to grant or deny clemency, and defendant has no due process right to the board of inquiry process initiated by the former Governor.