South Carolina Executes First Inmate in Over a Decade
In a ground-breaking move after a 13-year unintentional hiatus, South Carolina has carried out its first execution, marking a controversial restart of capital punishment in the state.
Punishment In the Face of Controversy
On the evening of Friday, 46-year-old Freddie Owens was declared dead, resulting from lethal injection. This came about following an extended break in capital punishment across South Carolina, primarily due to shortages in requisite lethal injection drugs. Owens’ death punishment was the result of his 1997 conviction for the murder of a convenience store clerk during a robbery. During his trial, Owens also confessed to killing a fellow inmate at a county jail, a confession that was subsequently recounted to all jurors in his case and led to the sentencing of his death.
A Chilling End and Last Resort
Owens, whose last meal consisted of two cheeseburgers, well-done ribeye steak, six chicken wings, french fries, two strawberry sodas, and a slice of apple pie, made no final remarks before his death. After the lethal drug administration, Owens bade goodbye to his lawyer, his last expression one of a calm yet eerie smile before succumbing to apparent unconsciousness. Roughly 10 minutes later, a medical professional confirmed his death.
Dire Appeals and Rejection
Despite the urgency of the situation, all of Owens’ successive and desperate appeals were rebuffed, including a last-minute appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court. South Carolina’s governor and the state’s director of corrections argued vehemently against Owens’ petition, stating there was nothing unusual in Owens’ case that warranted the Supreme Court stepping in. Following the execution, Republican Governor Henry McMaster, refused to commute Owens’ death sentence to life imprisonment.
Resumption of Capital Punishment in South Carolina
The execution of Owens may set a precedent for future capital punishment cases in South Carolina. With five other individuals out of normal appeals, the South Carolina Supreme Court is moving forward with the possibility of conducting an execution every five weeks. The state has executed 43 people since the reinstatement of the death penalty in the U.S. in 1976.
Critical Opposition and Where the State Stands
While the state gears up for potential further executions, opposition to the death penalty continues, with rights groups arguing against the severity and supposed inhumanity of capital punishment. South Carolinians for Alternatives to the Death Penalty protested outside the prison prior to Owens’ execution, appealing for a stay of execution. However, with death row population declining over the past decade and no clear alternatives for severe punishment, the state of South Carolina appears firm on its decision to resume the death penalty.
