Lethal Injection Death Row: Attorney's Religious Belief Choice

Details Surrounding the Decision

An attorney representing a death row inmate in South Carolina, facing the state’s first execution since 2011, has chosen lethal injection as his client’s method of death. The inmate in question, Freddie Owens, has handed over the decision to his attorney, citing religious reasons. According to his attorney, Emily Paavola, Owens’ Muslim faith prevents him from making the choice himself as he views it “akin to suicide,” a sin in his religion.

Owens’ Case

Owens was convicted for the murder of a Greenville convenience store clerk, Irene Graves, in 1997. He committed the crime while robbing the store with an accomplice. At his sentencing in 1999, Owens also admitted to killing his jailhouse cellmate, Christopher Lee. Prosecutors waived charges against Owens for the latter crime, preserving the right to pursue the case after he had exhausted his death sentence appeals concerning the Graves murder.

Choice of Execution Method

Under state law, inmates on death row have the option to choose between lethal injection, firing squad, or the electric chair. Without a specifically chosen method, the default is the electric chair. Owens willingly gave this decision to his attorney, Emily Paavola. Following his wishes not to be electrocuted, Paavola made a decision on his behalf, opting for lethal injection as the method of execution.

Controversy Regarding Lethal Injection

Owens’ attorneys had previously challenged the state’s corrections director Bryan Stirling’s statement attesting to the potency, purity, and stability of South Carolina’s pentobarbital—the sedative used for lethal injections. The lawyers argued they lacked critical information about when the state tested the drugs, their effectiveness, and storage methods. Despite their objections, their request for additional data was denied.

Final Words

In a statement, Paavola expressed, “I have known Mr. Owens for 15 years. Under the circumstances, and in light of the information currently available to me, I made the best decision I felt I could make on his behalf. I sincerely hope that the South Carolina Department of Corrections’ assurances will hold true.”

Owens’ Execution Date

Freddie Owens is scheduled for execution on September 20. His attorneys have already filed two motions to halt his execution, with the latest filed on September 5.