South Carolina executes Freddie Owens, ending a 13-year hiatus in capital punishment and reigniting debates on the death penalty.
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 used pentobarbital, following a switch from a three-drug method
- Six death row inmates are scheduled for execution at 35-day intervals
- The resumption of executions has sparked debates on fairness, cost, and effectiveness of the death penalty
South Carolina Resumes Executions After 13-Year Pause
South Carolina has ended its 13-year hiatus on capital punishment with the execution of Freddie Owens, a 46-year-old inmate convicted of two murders. Owens, who had changed his name to Khalil Divine Black Sun Allah in prison, was put to death using the sedative pentobarbital, marking a shift from the state’s previous three-drug method. The execution came after Owens’ final appeals, including a petition to the U.S. Supreme Court and a clemency request to the governor, were denied.
Owens was convicted for the 1997 murder of a convenience store clerk during a robbery and for killing a fellow inmate while awaiting trial. His case involved a detailed confession to a second murder, which was presented to juries and judges who sentenced him to death. In his final appeal, Owens’ lawyers argued a lack of scientific evidence and claimed his co-defendant’s testimony was unreliable. They also highlighted his traumatic childhood and brain damage as mitigating factors.
Challenges in Resuming Executions
South Carolina’s return to capital punishment comes after years of struggling to obtain lethal injection drugs. The state had to pass a shield law to keep execution protocols and drug suppliers secret to resume capital punishment. This move reflects a broader national issue where pharmaceutical companies have become increasingly reluctant to provide drugs for lethal injections, forcing states to seek alternative methods or sources.
“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.”
Controversy and Debate Surrounding Capital Punishment
The resumption of executions in South Carolina has reignited debates about the fairness, cost, and effectiveness of the death penalty. Critics point to racial disparities, procedural errors, and high costs associated with capital punishment. Statistics show that public support for the death penalty is at a 30-year low, reflecting growing concerns about its implementation and moral implications.
“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.”
South Carolina currently has 34 prisoners on death row, with six inmates having exhausted their appeals and scheduled for execution at 35-day intervals. The state’s decision to resume executions has been met with both support from those seeking justice for victims’ families and opposition from groups advocating for alternatives to the death penalty. As the debate continues, South Carolina’s actions will likely influence the national conversation on capital punishment and its place in the modern justice system.
