Columbia, South Carolina: The Countdown to an Execution
In a significant and somber turn of events, the South Carolina Supreme Court announced on Thursday that it would *not* halt the execution of Freddie Owens, who is scheduled to be executed by lethal injection this week. This marks South Carolina’s first execution in 13 years. The court, in a unanimous decision, dismissed two requests from Owens’ defense team. They claimed that new evidence regarding a secret deal related to a co-defendant and concerns about a juror’s awareness of Owens’ stun belt at his 1999 trial warranted further examination.
A Difficult Road to Justice
The justices determined that this new evidence, along with an argument that Owens’ death sentence was too severe since the jury never definitively decided whether he was the one who pulled the trigger, did not meet the necessary “exceptional circumstances” required for another appeal. In their order, the justices explained that it is typically challenging for death row inmates to secure new trials after exhausting their appeals, and Owens’ case was no different.
Owens’ defense attorneys expressed their concern, mentioning that previous legal representatives had given the case thorough scrutiny. However, these issues only surfaced now as the execution date draws near.
Execution Set for September 20
The court’s decision keeps Owens’ execution on track for September 20 at the Broad River Correctional Institution in Columbia. This execution signals a stark return to capital punishment in South Carolina after a long hiatus. The last execution in the state was in May 2011. The long pause was not intended; it was largely due to the expiration of lethal injection drugs and a refusal from manufacturers to supply more drugs under conditions that would make the procurement public.
After a decade of debates and legislative tussles, South Carolina finally reestablished capital punishment, adding firing squads as an option alongside lethal injection.
The Case of Freddie Owens
Freddie Owens, now 46 years old, was sentenced to death for the murder of a convenience store clerk named Irene Graves in Greenville back in 1997. Testimony from co-defendant Steven Golden stated that Owens shot Graves in the head when she was unable to open the safe. While there was surveillance footage from the store, it did not clearly depict the shooting. Prosecutors struggled to find the actual weapon used, and no scientific evidence linked Owens directly to the murder during the trial.
It was after Owens’ death sentence was overturned that prosecutors indicated the shooter wore a ski mask, while the other robber was in a stocking mask. They also connected the ski mask to Owens. Meanwhile, Golden, who pleaded guilty to a lesser charge of voluntary manslaughter, initially claimed that he had no agreements with prosecutors to lessen his sentence. However, in recent statements, he suggested the existence of a deal, raising concerns that this could have swayed jurors at the time of the trial.
A Last Chance
Despite the court’s ruling, Owens may still have one avenue left to avert his execution. He could appeal to Governor Henry McMaster, who has the authority to commute his sentence to life in prison. However, the governor has made it clear he will not announce his decision until prison officials contact him from the death chamber just minutes before the execution.
As discussions swirl, McMaster, a former prosecutor, stated he respects the verdicts of juries and the decisions made by the courts. Despite the pressing timeline, he has yet to reveal his stance on Owens’ case.
Voices Against the Death Penalty
A group of death penalty opponents gathered outside McMaster’s office the same day to urge him to grant clemency. They emphasized the principle that “nobody is beyond redemption.” The Rev. Hillary Taylor, the Executive Director of South Carolinians for Alternatives to the Death Penalty, reminded all that it’s vital to recognize the humanity in every individual, regardless of their past actions.
The conversations surrounding Owens’ case bring to light deeper issues of race and justice, particularly given that Owens is Black, amidst concerns about the racial disparities in executions within South Carolina. Rev. David Kennedy of the Laurens County chapter of the NAACP articulated a powerful sentiment when he proclaimed, “No one should take a life. Not even the state of South Carolina. Only God can do that.”
As September 20 approaches, the eyes of many will be on Columbia, where *questions of justice, mercy, and the value of life* hang in the balance.
