Additional Coverage:
- South Carolina restarts executions after 13 years (nbcnews.com)
South Carolina Resumes Executions
South Carolina has resumed executions after a 13-year hiatus. On Friday, Freddie Owens was put to death for the 1997 murder of a convenience store clerk. Owens was also convicted of killing a fellow inmate while awaiting trial.
Owens’ Execution
Owens declined to make a final statement. His last meal included cheeseburgers, steak, chicken wings, and pie.
After the lethal injection was administered, he briefly spoke to his lawyer and appeared to lose consciousness within a minute. He was declared dead at 6:55 p.m.
Legal Challenges
Owens’ execution was the first of several that are scheduled. The state has cleared the way for executions every five weeks.
Owens’ attorneys had filed last-ditch appeals, arguing that there was insufficient evidence and that he had brain damage. His request for clemency was also denied by Governor Henry McMaster.
Return of Capital Punishment
South Carolina’s last execution was in 2011. The state was unable to obtain lethal injection drugs and had to pass a shield law to protect the supplier’s identity before executions could resume. The state has switched to a new protocol using only pentobarbital.
Owens’ Crimes
Owens was convicted of murdering Irene Graves in 1999 during a robbery. He also confessed to killing Christopher Lee while incarcerated. His confession was read to the jury and judge who sentenced him to death.
Controversy
Owens’ execution has drawn criticism from opponents of the death penalty. They argue that there were doubts about his guilt and that he had suffered from severe trauma in his youth.
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- South Carolina restarts executions after 13 years (nbcnews.com)