South Carolina Man Convicted of Double Murder Seeks Early Release Citing Psychological Harm from Solitary Confinement
Brandon Council, a 28-year-old South Carolina man, has filed a motion in a federal court for a “compassionate release” from prison despite having his death sentence commuted by President Joe Biden. In 2017, Council was convicted of double murder after stabbing and shooting bank employees Katie Skeen and Donna Major to death during a botched robbery attempt.
According to court records obtained by WBTW, Council has been placed in solitary confinement since November 2019. He is asking for release arguing that his constant isolation has inflicted “severe, unnecessary, and unjustifiable psychological harm that can only be accurately construed and assimilated as an act of torture.”
Following Biden’s commute of Council’s death sentence along with 36 other federal prisoners, many Americans have spoken out against the move. Representatives Russel Fry, R-S.C., and Dan Meuser, R-Pa., both claimed that Biden’s decision “shows shocking disregard” for victims and their families, while others were outraged that criminals who had taken innocent lives received clemency.
In one particularly moving episode of Fox News’ “Fox & Friends” Christmas Eve 2020 episode, the sister and brother of bank teller Donna Major vehemently condemned President Biden’s actions, expressing heartbreak and feelings of being unfairly ignored. Prior to his life sentence being imposed, Council murdered Skeen during a botched robbery in March 2018.
Donald Trump, then-preident, in a recent appearance on TruthSocial, reacted intensely to the prospect of clemency, announcing his opposition while also announcing measures to counter that moratorium against federal executions while he holds executive office.
Throughout the course, the federal institution has performed several executions. Nonetheless, more has been achieved due to state-executed punishments when compared to an individual nation – the nation now has around seven hundred years history of prison stays.