SC’s First Inmate to be Executed in 13 Years Set to Die by Lethal Injection, Attorney Decides
COLUMBIA — In a decision that marks a historic moment in South Carolina’s criminal justice system, the state’s first inmate to be executed in 13 years will face death by lethal injection, his legal representative has decreed. Freddie Owens is set to be executed on September 20, the first execution in the state since 2011.
Owens’ lawyer, Emily Paavola, was assigned the grim task of deciding his method of execution, with the options being lethal injection, electrocution, or a firing squad. The choice is indicative of a contentious debate surrounding the humane nature of execution methods, with the South Carolina Supreme Court ruling all three options as constitutional, despite protestations from inmates.
A Turn of Events
Owens’ decision to assign the power of deciding his execution method comes from his religious conviction as a practicing Muslim. He considers choosing his own mode of death equivalent to committing suicide, a sin in Islamic tradition. This unusual arrangement was approved by the State Supreme Court earlier this week.
“I have known Mr. Owens for 15 years. Under the circumstances, and in light of the information currently available to me, I made the best decision I felt I could make on his behalf,” Paavola explained in a public statement earlier this Friday.
Owen’s Convictions
Owens was initially condemned in 1999 for shooting a gas station clerk, Irene Graves, during a robbery, because she was unable to unlock the safe. Later, while incarcerated at the Greenville Detention Center prior to his sentencing, he murdered another inmate. However, his legal team maintains his innocence, stating that Owens was just present at the location of the crime, not the actual shooter.
Further controversy surrounds the case as his lawyers argue that Owens suffers from ‘organic brain damage’ from a history of abuse and mistreatment, casting shadows on the legality of his sentence.
Lethal Injection: A Look into the Future
Owens’ execution will be the first instance in South Carolina of single-drug injection, a shift from the traditional three-drug cocktail typically used. The drug chosen is pentobarbital, a lethal barbiturate that doubles as a sedative in large doses, which is also used for euthanizing pets.
Previously the state, in common with most others, used a combination of three drugs: pancuronium bromide to relax the muscles, a sedative to ease the inmate into unconsciousness, and potassium chloride to stop the heart. However, due to shortages of these drugs, both federal and state jurisdictions have moved towards the use of pentobarbital solely.
Delivering the funds, however, is another controversial issue. Legislators passed a law last year to shield most of the drug’s information, including cost and acquisition details. Questions over the efficacy and safety of the drug linger, with Owens’ attorneys voicing their concerns over the potential to cause harm to Owens during his execution.
With this groundbreaking but devastating event, South Carolina will join a list of other states that have executed at least one person using a single drug, a list that includes Texas, Utah, Georgia, and Ohio.
Wrapping Up
While the decision to execute Owens by lethal injection is a monumental moment for South Carolina’s criminal justice system, it also opens up a new dialogue on the morality and legality of execution methods. In a state marked by its rigorous approach to justice, this case serves as a reflection of our ever-evolving views on justice, punishment, and, ultimately, the value of life.
