Death row chaos in South Carolina after key witness makes bombshell confession just hours before man’s lethal injection

The upcoming execution of a South Carolina man has descended into chaos after a key witness testified in a sworn statement that he lied to get him convicted.

Freddie Owens will be put to death by lethal injection later today for the 1997 murder of Irene Graves, a Greenville convenience store clerk during a robbery.

On Wednesday, his attorneys filed a statement from his co-defendant Steven Golden, stating that Owens was not in the store when Graves was killed.

Golden said he blamed Owens, who was 19 at the time, because he was addicted to cocaine and under pressure from police.

He wrote: ‘I thought the real shooter or his accomplices would kill me if I reported him to the police. I still fear that. But Freddie wasn’t there.’

His attorneys have filed an affidavit from his co-defendant Steven Golden, saying Owens was not at the store when Graves, pictured here, was killed.

Despite Golden’s claims, the South Carolina Supreme Court refuses to intervene and stop Owens’ execution by lethal injection.

The judges ruled Thursday that Golden’s statement was not enough to stop prison officials from executing Owens.

Attorney Gerald “Bo” King said, “South Carolina is about to execute a man for a crime he did not commit. We will continue to advocate for Mr. Owens.”

Golden testified at Owens’ trial, saying prosecutors had promised to consider his testimony in his favor, but that he still faced the death penalty or life in prison.

He was eventually sentenced to 28 years in prison after pleading guilty to the lesser charge of manslaughter.

Golden said, “I’m coming forward now because I know Freddie’s execution date is September 20th, and I don’t want Freddie to be executed for something he didn’t do.

‘This has really bothered me and I want to have a clear conscience.’

Prosecutors said several other witnesses testified that Owens was the one who pulled the trigger.

Those witnesses were friends of Owens who said he had bragged to them about killing Graves. His former girlfriend also testified that he had confessed to the murder.

The judges ruled Thursday that Golden’s testimony was not enough to stop prison officials from executing Owens, pictured at his 1999 trial.

South Carolina for Alternatives to the Death Penalty Director Rev. Hillary Taylor speaks at a press conference on Thursday, September 19

Less than 12 hours after being convicted of Graves’ murder, Owens also killed fellow inmate Christopher Bryan Lee, 28, during a jail cell brawl. Lee reportedly revealed that his cousin was on the jury that sentenced Owens to death.

Prosecutors argued that Golden’s decision to revise his story was not reliable since he had now admitted under oath to lying, showing he could not be trusted.

On Thursday, a group called South Carolina’s for Alternatives to the Death Penalty presented a petition with more than 10,000 signatures to Gov. Henry McMaster.

They are seeking Owens’ life sentence, with Warden Rev. Hillary Taylor saying, “Justice works for restoration. You can’t restore someone who kills you.”

McMaster, a Republican, said he will wait to announce his decision on clemency until authorities summon him minutes before the execution.

If Owens is executed, he will be the first in the state in 13 years, after the two men struggled to obtain the drugs needed for lethal injections.

The state added a firing squad option and passed a shield law to keep many of the details of executions private. The state Supreme Court then cleared the way for the death chamber to reopen this summer.

Owens was given the choice of lethal injection, the electric chair, or a firing squad, and he chose lethal injection.

He left his fate to his lawyer, who said he could not play an active role in his own death because of his Islamic faith.