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South Carolina executed Marion Bowman Jr., the third inmate in four months, as the state resumes executions after a 13-year pause. Bowman maintained his innocence until his final moments.
UPDATED: Feb 2, 2025 22:11 IST
South Carolina carried out its third execution in four months on Friday, putting to death Marion Bowman Jr., a 44-year-old inmate convicted of murder. Bowman was pronounced dead at 6:27 p.m. following a lethal injection at the state prison. His execution is part of South Carolina’s effort to clear a backlog of prisoners who exhausted their legal appeals while the state struggled to obtain lethal injection drugs.
'Did not kill Kandee Martin'
Bowman was sentenced to death in 2002 for the 2001 murder of Kandee Martin, whose burned body was discovered in the trunk of a car. Despite his conviction, Bowman insisted he was innocent, opening his final statement by declaring, “I did not kill Kandee Martin.”
His lawyers said he was convicted on the word of several friends and relatives who received deals or had charges dropped by prosecutors in exchange for their testimony.
Bowman was convicted in Dorchester County in 2002 of murder in the killing of 21-year-old Kandee Martin in 2001. A number of friends and family members testified against him as part of plea deals.
Bowman’s final moments and statement
As the execution chamber curtain opened, Bowman briefly made eye contact with his attorney before looking upward and closing his eyes. As his attorney read his final statement, Bowman’s breathing grew heavier before eventually stopping. A doctor confirmed his death approximately 20 minutes later, reports Associated Press.
In his final statement, Bowman said death row inmates might be labeled the worst of the worst, but they have all grown and changed from what “they were when they had their moment that cost them everything.”
“I know that Kandee’s family is in pain, they are justifiably angry. If my death brings them some relief and ability to focus on the good times and funny stories, then I guess it will have served a purpose. I hope they find peace.”
Bowman’s final meal consisted of fried seafood, including shrimp, fish and oysters, chicken wings and tenders, onion rings, banana pudding, German chocolate cake, cranberry juice and pineapple juice.
First US Execution of 2025
Bowman’s death marks the first execution in the US in 2025. Twenty-five executions were carried out in the country last year.
South Carolina had paused executions for 13 years due to the difficulty of acquiring lethal injection drugs. However, that changed when lawmakers passed a shield law, allowing prison officials to purchase lethal drugs from a compounding pharmacy while keeping the supplier’s identity confidential.
Since executions resumed, three Black inmates — Freddie Owens in September, Richard Moore in November, and now Bowman— have been put to death.
South Carolina has put 45 inmates to death since the death penalty was restarted in the US in 1976. In the early 2000s, it was carrying out an average of three executions a year. Nine states have put more inmates to death.
Source: Associated Press
Published By:
indiatodayglobal
Published On:
Feb 2, 2025
