International Courant
A South Carolina man convicted of the 1997 killing of a comfort retailer clerk throughout a theft was put to demise Friday, because the state restarted executions following a 13-year pause.
Freddie Owens, 46, was declared lifeless at 6:55 p.m. on the Broad River Correctional Establishment (BRCI) in Columbia, shortly after the U.S. Supreme Court docket denied his enchantment and a petition for a keep of execution.
His final meal consisted of two cheeseburgers, french fries, a well-done ribeye steak, six rooster wings, two strawberry sodas and a bit of apple pie, the South Carolina Division of Corrections advised Fox Information Digital.
Owens was convicted of the 1997 killing of a Greenville comfort retailer clerk throughout a theft. Nevertheless, he killed an inmate at a county jail whereas on trial. His confession to that assault was learn to 2 completely different juries and a choose who all sentenced him to demise.
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Freddie Eugene Owens (South Carolina Division of Corrections by way of AP)
Whereas strapped to a gurney, Owens declined to make a remaining assertion, however stated “bye” to his lawyer earlier than dropping consciousness contained in the BRCI demise chamber.
His final likelihood to keep away from demise was from Republican South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster to commute his sentence to life in jail. McMaster denied Owens’ request as effectively, stating that he had “fastidiously reviewed and thoughtfully thought of” Owens’ software for clemency.
Owens was the primary inmate to be put to demise in South Carolina in over a decade. 5 different inmates have exhausted their appeals, and the South Carolina Supreme Court docket has cleared the best way to carry an execution each 5 weeks.
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Rev. Hillary Taylor protests the deliberate execution of Freddie Eugene Owens, 46, on Friday in Columbia, S.C. (AP Picture/Chris Carlson)
South Carolina first tried so as to add the firing squad to restart executions after its provide of deadly injection medication expired, however no firm was keen to publicly promote the state extra.
To hold out executions, the state switched from a three-drug methodology to a brand new protocol of utilizing simply the sedative pentobarbital. The brand new course of is much like how the federal authorities kills inmates, in accordance with state jail officers, The Related Press reported.
This undated picture supplied by the South Carolina Division of Corrections exhibits the state’s demise chamber in Columbia, S.C., together with the electrical chair, proper, and a firing squad chair, left. (South Carolina Division of Corrections by way of AP/File)
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Inmates even have the correct to decide on deadly injection, the brand new firing squad or the electrical chair in-built 1912.
Owens allowed his lawyer to select how he died, saying he felt if he made the selection he could be a celebration to his personal demise and his non secular beliefs denounce suicide.
The Related Press contributed to this report.
