South Carolina resumes executions after a 13-year hiatus, executing Freddie Owens for a 1997 murder and sparking debates on justice and ethics.
At a Glance
- South Carolina executed Freddie Owens, marking the state’s first execution in 13 years
- Owens was convicted for the 1997 murder of a convenience store clerk and killing a fellow inmate
- The execution was carried out using the sedative pentobarbital, following a switch from a three-drug method
- Six death row inmates have exhausted their appeals and are scheduled for execution at 35-day intervals
- South Carolina passed a shield law to keep execution protocols and drug suppliers secret
South Carolina Resumes Capital Punishment
South Carolina has ended its 13-year pause on executions, carrying out the death sentence of Freddie Owens on Friday. This marks a significant turning point in the state’s criminal justice system, as it overcomes challenges that had halted capital punishment since 2011. Owens, 46, was convicted for the 1997 murder of a convenience store clerk during a robbery and for killing a fellow inmate while awaiting trial.
The execution was carried out using the sedative pentobarbital, a change from the previous three-drug method. This shift in protocol came after years of difficulty in obtaining the necessary drugs for lethal injections, a problem that had effectively suspended executions in the state. To address this issue, South Carolina passed legislation allowing alternative methods such as firing squad and electric chair, and enacted a shield law to protect the identity of drug suppliers.
Legal Challenges and Execution Details
Owens’ final appeals, including a petition to the U.S. Supreme Court and a clemency request to the governor, were denied. His lawyers argued for leniency, citing his traumatic childhood and brain damage as mitigating factors. However, these efforts were unsuccessful, and the execution proceeded as scheduled.
“Justice has been delayed for too long in South Carolina,” Gov. Henry McMaster said in a September 2023 statement after notifying the courts that the S.C. Department of Corrections had obtained the necessary drugs and was prepared to resume lethal injections as the primary method of execution. “This filing brings our state one step closer to being able to once again carry out the rule of law and bring grieving families and loved ones the closure they are rightfully owed.”
Owens, who had changed his name to Khalil Divine Black Sun Allah in prison, did not make a final statement. His last meal consisted of cheeseburgers, steak, chicken wings, sodas, and apple pie. Under South Carolina law, condemned inmates can choose between lethal injection, firing squad, or electric chair; Owens let his lawyer choose the method.
Future Executions and Ongoing Debate
With the resumption of executions, South Carolina now faces the prospect of carrying out death sentences for six inmates who have exhausted their appeals. These executions are scheduled to occur at 35-day intervals, raising concerns among death penalty opponents about the rapid pace of executions.
“Our state has real problems,” ACLU-SC spokesman Paul Bowers told Statehouse Report in a Sept. 3 interview, “and we’d all benefit if our politicians put as much energy into keeping people alive as they do into killing them.”
The resumption of executions in South Carolina has reignited debates about the ethics and effectiveness of capital punishment. Critics point to racial disparities, with four of the six scheduled inmates being Black, and highlight concerns about the fairness and cost of the death penalty. Supporters, however, argue that it provides justice and closure for victims’ families.
As South Carolina moves forward with its execution schedule, the state’s criminal justice system will likely face continued scrutiny and legal challenges. The coming months will test the state’s new protocols and its ability to carry out death sentences while addressing ongoing ethical and legal concerns surrounding capital punishment.
