South Carolina Executes Inmate Freddie Owens by Lethal Injection After 13-Year Pause

Freddie Owens was executed in South Carolina, marking the state's first execution in 13 years. The delay was due to difficulties in obtaining lethal injection drugs. Owens, convicted of a 1997 murder during a robbery, was pronounced dead at 6:55 pm. His final appeals were denied, including a request to the US Supreme Court and a clemency plea to Governor Henry McMaster.

Owens' case involved multiple crimes. He was found guilty of killing Irene Graves in 1999 after she refused to open a store safe. Before sentencing for this crime, Owens killed fellow inmate Christopher Lee. He confessed to this murder, but charges were later dropped with the option to reinstate them.

Execution Methods and Legal Changes

South Carolina has revised its execution methods due to drug shortages. The state now uses pentobarbital, similar to federal executions. Inmates can choose between lethal injection, firing squad, or the electric chair from 1912. Owens allowed his lawyer to decide his method of execution, citing religious beliefs against suicide.

The state had to enact a shield law to protect drug suppliers' identities and execution protocols. This change enabled the reopening of the death chamber at Broad River Correctional Institution. The firing squad was added as an option after lethal injection drugs became unavailable.

Legal Proceedings and Appeals

Owens' legal team argued that no scientific evidence linked him directly to Graves' murder. They presented a statement from Steven Golden contradicting trial testimony that implicated Owens. Despite these efforts, prosecutors cited testimonies from Owens' acquaintances who claimed he boasted about the crime.

Governor McMaster reviewed Owens' clemency application but ultimately denied it. He stated he would announce his decision just before the execution began, following historical practices. McMaster expressed trust in the judicial process and juries' decisions.

Impact on Death Row Population

Since South Carolina's last execution in 2011, its death row population has decreased significantly. Initially housing 63 inmates in early 2011, the number reduced to 32 by the time of Owens' execution. Successful appeals have led to different sentences for some inmates, while others died naturally.

The state has executed 43 individuals since capital punishment resumed in the US in 1976. During the early 2000s, South Carolina averaged three executions annually. However, only nine states have executed more inmates than South Carolina since then.

Owens changed his name to Khalil Divine Black Sun Allah while incarcerated, though official records still refer to him as Owens. His lawyers highlighted his young age at the time of Graves' murder and his history of abuse while in juvenile detention.

A vigil organised by South Carolinians for Alternatives to the Death Penalty took place outside the prison before Owens' scheduled execution time. The group continues advocating against capital punishment in light of cases like Owens'.