Freddie Owens, set to be executed today in South Carolina for a murder committed back in 1997, finds his case suddenly turned on its head. Just hours before the scheduled lethal injection, a bombshell has dropped—a key witness has come forward, admitting he lied at trial.
Steven Golden, Owens’ co-defendant, now claims that Owens wasn’t even at the scene when Irene Graves, a convenience store clerk, was killed. High on cocaine at the time, Golden says he was scared and under pressure from the police when he accused Owens. “I thought naming the real shooter would get me killed,” Golden confessed, “but Freddie wasn’t there.”
The body of Freddie Owens leaves Broad River Correctional. Lethal injection administered at 6:35, Owens pronounced deceased at 6:55. @WCBD pic.twitter.com/qBMRvaHDPV
— Brendan Clark (@brendanclark) September 20, 2024
Despite this stunning reversal, the South Carolina Supreme Court refused to halt the execution. They decided that Golden’s change of story came too late and didn’t provide enough grounds to stop the process. Owens’ attorney, Gerald “Bo” King, expressed fury—arguing that the state is about to execute an innocent man. King insists there’s still time to prevent a grave injustice, though time is slipping away.
Golden had once testified against Owens, cutting a deal with prosecutors that reduced his sentence to 28 years. But now, with Owens’ life hanging in the balance, Golden says the weight of his false testimony has become unbearable. “I can’t let him die for something he didn’t do,” Golden admitted, saying the guilt has gnawed at him for years.
Prosecutors, however, are unconvinced. They argue that Golden’s new story can’t be trusted, especially after admitting to lying under oath. And there’s more—other witnesses claim Owens bragged about the murder, and even his ex-girlfriend testified that he had confessed to killing Graves.
Hours before Freddie Owens’ execution, the daughter of the woman he killed says she believes the state of South Carolina used its best judgment in the decades leading up to this moment.#freddieowens #deathpenalty #southcarolina #sc #columbiasc #crime pic.twitter.com/steMVOmc0L
— WACH FOX (@wachfox) September 20, 2024
The story doesn’t end there. Less than 12 hours after being convicted for Graves’ murder, Owens killed another inmate—Christopher Bryan Lee—during a prison fight. Lee had reportedly told Owens that his cousin was on the jury that handed down Owens’ death sentence.
With the clock ticking, advocacy groups are pushing hard for clemency. South Carolinians for Alternatives to the Death Penalty delivered a petition, but Governor Henry McMaster has stayed quiet. He’s expected to make his decision minutes before the execution. If carried out, Owens will be the first person executed in the state in 13 years.
South Carolina is scheduled to execute convicted killer Freddie Owens at 6pm in Columbia, but it’s still possible it could be stopped, @wachfox expects to hear from witnesses shortly after the sentence is carried out pic.twitter.com/Ymts4et5Y7
— Brian McConchie (@BMcConchie) September 20, 2024
Bound by his Muslim faith, Owens has left his fate in the hands of his attorney, refusing to choose between lethal injection, the electric chair, or firing squad.
Major Points
- Hours before Freddie Owens’ scheduled execution, co-defendant Steven Golden confessed that Owens wasn’t present at the 1997 murder of Irene Graves.
- Golden, who had testified against Owens in exchange for a reduced sentence, now admits to lying under police pressure.
- Despite the bombshell revelation, the South Carolina Supreme Court has refused to halt the execution, citing the timing and credibility issues.
- Owens’ attorney, Gerald “Bo” King, argues that the state is on the brink of executing an innocent man, as advocacy groups push for clemency.
- Owens, bound by his Muslim faith, has left his fate to his attorney, with Governor Henry McMaster expected to make a final decision minutes before the execution.
Charles William III – Reprinted with permission of Whatfinger News
