A South Carolina inmate, Marion Bowman Jr., was executed by lethal injection on Friday for the murder of his friend, Kandee Martin, whose burned body was found in a car in 2001. Bowman had maintained his innocence throughout his trial, and his lawyers raised concerns about his conviction, noting that he was convicted based on the testimony of friends and family members who received plea deals in exchange for their testimony.
Bowman’s execution was the third in four months, as the state has been working to clear a backlog of inmates who have exhausted their appeals. The state’s inability to obtain lethal injection drugs in the past had led to a 13-year pause in executions, but the legislature passed a shield law to allow officials to keep the identity of lethal injection drug suppliers private, allowing executions to resume in September.
In his final statement, Bowman expressed remorse for the pain he had caused Martin’s family and said that he hoped his death would bring them some relief and closure. He also criticized the system, saying that those on death row are often viewed as the “worst of the worst,” but that they have all “grown and changed from what they were when they had their moment that cost them everything.”
Bowman’s execution was carried out at 6:27 p.m. Friday, and he was declared dead 20 minutes later. His final meal consisted of fried seafood, chicken wings, and other items. He had been on death row for over 20 years, and his execution marked the 46th in South Carolina since the death penalty was reinstated in 1976.
