South Carolina Supreme Court refuses to stop upcoming execution of Freddie Owens, the state’s first in 13 years

The South Carolina Supreme Court denied a request to stop the execution of Freddie Owens, who is scheduled to be put to death by lethal injection next week. Owens was convicted of killing a convenience store clerk in 1997, and his lawyers had raised concerns about new evidence and juror misconduct. The court ruled that the evidence did not meet the standard for granting a new trial. Owens is set to be executed on September 20, which will be the state’s first execution in 13 years. Governor Henry McMaster has the power to commute Owens’ sentence to life in prison, but has not yet announced his decision. Opponents of the death penalty have urged the governor to grant clemency, citing concerns about racial disparities in the application of the death penalty.