In South Carolina, a death row inmate, Freddie Owens, is scheduled to be executed on September 20.
However, Owens faced a difficult decision: choosing the method of his execution.
He was given three options—lethal injection, electric chair, or firing squad—but he could not bring himself to select any of them.
The Role of Faith in the Decision
Owens, 46, cited his Muslim faith as the reason he could not choose his method of death
In court documents, he explained that selecting how he dies would be equivalent to participating in suicide, which goes against his beliefs
As a result, he deferred the decision to his attorney, Emily Paavola
Reluctantly, Paavola chose lethal injection on his behalf, although she expressed concerns about the drugs used in the procedure.
Concerns About the Execution Method
Paavola submitted the official paperwork to prison officials, stating they should proceed with lethal injection
In a statement, she voiced doubts about whether the drugs provided for lethal injection would ensure a painless death, as required by law
Her uncertainty stemmed from the lack of detailed information about the drugs, raising concerns that Owens might endure unnecessary suffering.
South Carolina's First Execution in 13 Years
This execution will be the first in South Carolina in more than 13 years
The state's executions have been on hold due to difficulties in obtaining lethal injection drugs.
In 2021, the state legislature passed a law allowing the identity of drug suppliers to remain confidential, which enabled the resumption of executions.
Owens’ legal team has been working hard to delay the execution.
They argue that his co-defendant, Steven Golden, lied about having a plea deal in exchange for testifying against Owens.
Golden claimed that Owens shot a store clerk during a robbery, but his testimony came with an agreement that Golden would avoid the death penalty or life in prison.
Unresolved Doubts
The case is further complicated by the fact that key pieces of evidence were either missing or inconclusive.
There was surveillance footage, but it didn’t clearly capture the shooting.
Additionally, no weapon was found, and no forensic evidence directly linked Owens to the murder.
Mental Health and Age Concerns
Owens’ legal team also highlighted his age at the time of the crime—just 19—and the fact that scans indicated his brain was not fully developed
They argued that his death sentence is too harsh, especially since fewer than 1% of murder convictions in robbery cases result in the death penalty.
The Drug Controversy
Owens' attorneys also questioned the safety and reliability of the lethal injection drugs, specifically the sedative pentobarbital, which the state plans to use.
Although state officials assured that the drug was tested and effective, Owens’ legal team requested additional details, such as the drug's expiration date and how it would be stored, to ensure it would not cause unnecessary suffering.
Awaiting the Final Decision
With the execution date fast approaching, Owens' only chance of avoiding death lies in the hands of Governor Henry McMaster.
However, no South Carolina governor has granted clemency in any of the state's executions since the death penalty was reinstated in 1976.
The final decision will come down to a phone call just moments before the execution is scheduled to take place.
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