Columbia, S.C. — South Carolina has carried out the execution of Richard Moore, a 59-year-old death row inmate, marking the state’s second use of capital punishment in over a decade. An injection of pentobarbital was administered, leading to Moore’s death at 6:24 p.m. on Friday, state authorities confirmed. This execution follows the demise of Freddie Owens last month, signaling an active resumption of executions after a 13-year hiatus.
Moore was convicted 23 years ago for the murder of James Mahoney, a convenience store clerk, in an incident that occurred at Nikki’s Speedy Mart in Spartanburg County. The confrontation resulted in Moore fatally shooting Mahoney in the chest with a gun Mahoney had initially pointed at him, following an injury Moore sustained from Mahoney shooting him in the arm. Moore has consistently argued that it was never his intention to rob the store.
Despite Moore’s lengthy time on death row and arguments from his legal team citing a clean prison record and evidence suggesting his actions might constitute self-defense, the pleas for clemency were turned down by Republican Governor Henry McMaster. The Governor did so after consulting with the victim’s family and reviewing the submission from Moore’s lawyers, but without providing public comment on his decision.
Governor McMaster’s refusal came despite notable appeals for a sentence reduction to life in prison without parole from several parties including former jurors of Moore’s trial, Moore’s original trial judge, his friends, pastors, a former state prison director, and Moore’s own children. His son Lyndall Moore conveyed to press outlets that his father’s sentencing was disproportionate to the circumstances of the crime.
During Moore’s final moments, he expressed remorse to the family of James Mahoney, stating deep sorrow for the pain and sorrow caused. He also expressed love toward his family, thanking them for the joy they brought into his life, as recounted by prison spokesperson Chrysti Shain in a post-execution press briefing.
The execution has reignited difficult discussions about the racial composition of juries in capital cases in South Carolina. Moore, a black man, was sentenced by a jury comprised predominantly of white individuals — seven white women, four white men, and one Hispanic man. This occurred despite approximately 20% of residents in Spartanburg County, where the crime took place, being black.
Advocacy group Justice 360, representing Moore, criticized the state’s decision, lamenting the loss of life as unnecessary and condemning the irregularities they perceive in the state’s capital punishment system. They highlighted the arbitrary nature of decision-making in such cases, influenced by factors such as race and socioeconomic status.
This case has drawn attention to broader systemic issues, including demographic disparities in jury compositions and their impact on sentencing outcomes. Moreover, the resumption of executions in South Carolina has amplified ongoing debates around the ethics and implementation of the death penalty.
The Supreme Court declined a review of Moore’s case concerning juror issues on Thursday, effectively upholding the decision for his execution.
The execution has prompted a varied response from community members and activists, a reflection of the nation’s enduring division over capital punishment.
As public discourse continues to evolve, these events highlight the ongoing complexities and deeply rooted concerns surrounding justice and equity in capital sentencing.
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