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A death row inmate in Missouri is currently fighting for his life. Experts say new DNA evidence proves his innocence in a 1998 murder – just weeks before his execution.

Marcellus Williams, 55, was sentenced to death in 2001 for killing a well-known St. Louis Post-Dispatch Reporter Felicia Gayle.

According to court documents, Gayle was stabbed 43 times with a kitchen knife in a brutal attack at her home in the St. Louis suburb of University City on August 11, 1998.

A day after her murder, police seized Williams’ car and discovered a St. Louis Post-Dispatch-Brand ruler inside.

Police later found a laptop belonging to Gayle’s husband at the home of a man named Glenn Roberts, who claimed Williams had given it to him.

At the time, prosecutors alleged that Williams killed the 42-year-old during a break-in at Gayle’s home and left the house with a blood-stained shirt, her purse and her laptop.

At his trial, he was found guilty of premeditated murder and sentenced to death.

Now his execution is scheduled for September 24th.

But 20 years after the murder, Williams continues to maintain his innocence and fight to have his conviction overturned.

On Wednesday, Williams’ lawyers and St. Louis District Attorney Wesley Bell presented DNA evidence for the first time that they say shows he cannot be the killer.

In a 63-page application by Bell, which can be viewed The New York TimesThey argue that Williams was wrongfully convicted because the case was based “entirely” on the testimony of two informants – Laura Asaro, Williams’ ex-girlfriend, and Henry Cole, a prison inmate who was previously in prison with Williams – and there was no evidence linking Williams to the crime scene.

In particular, the bloody footprints, hair and fingerprints found at the crime scene did not belong to Williams, the application states.

According to Bell, the murder weapon was tested in 2016 and three DNA experts have said it cannot be traced back to Williams. Other forensic evidence from the crime scene also does not point to Williams, the motion states.

The hearing on Wednesday will be the first time that DNA evidence in the case will be examined.

While Bell and Williams’ lawyers fight to prove his innocence, Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey has tried to end the litigation.

Last month, Bailey asked both the St. Louis District Court and the state Supreme Court to block the hearing, arguing that the court had previously heard and dismissed Williams’ claims and that the state Supreme Court has “sole authority to review death sentences.”

The Missouri Supreme Court denied his request, paving the way for the hearing.

Williams has been imminently executed twice before: in 2015 and 2017. However, the execution was postponed at the last minute to allow for DNA testing.