Inmate executed despite witness’ last-minute confession he lied to save himself
A death row inmate has been executed despite his friend’s eleventh hour confession that he lied in testimony against him in order to save his own life.
Freddie Owens, 46, was killed with South Carolina’s first lethal injection in 13 years on Friday evening.
Late Wednesday, Owens’ attorneys had filed a sworn statement from his friend and co-defendant, Steven Golden, in a last-ditch effort to halt the execution.
Golden stated that Owens was not at a convenience store in Greenville in 1997 when a robbery ensued and clerk Irene Graves was killed.
He said he had blamed Owens, at time time 19 years old, for the killing because he was on cocaine and was pressured by cops. He added that he was afraid of the real killer.
‘I thought the real shooter or his associates might kill me if I named him to police. I am still afraid of that. But Freddie was not there,’ wrote Golden.
But the state Supreme Court on Thursday refused to stop the execution and Governor Henry McMaster declined to grant a clemency request.
Owens did not give a final statement.
Two family members of Graves watched as Owens, wearing a green jumpsuit, was covered with a white sheet.
‘There wasn’t like any animosity, or any, you know, anger or anything, they just kind of gave him a fairly intense stare,’ said Associated Press reporter Jeffrey Collins.
Owens was pronounced dead at 6.55pm.
He was given the death penalty two years after being convicted murder, armed robbery and criminal conspiracy in the killing of Owens, 41, a mother-of-three.
In 1999, Owens while awaiting his sentencing confessed to killing a cellmate, WHNS reported.
Owens had been given the option of execution via lethal injection, firing squad and the electric chair two weeks ago, according to the state corrections department. Owens told his lawyer, Emily Paavola, to choose for him.
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