Steven Golden recants his testimony against Freddie Owens just days before Owens’ scheduled execution.
At a Glance
- Freddie Owens’ lawyers maintain his innocence despite the South Carolina Supreme Court’s denial of an appeal.
- Steven Golden now asserts Owens was not involved in the 1997 murder of Irene Graves.
- Golden claims police coerced him into giving false testimony.
- The state Supreme Court refused to halt Owens’ execution.
- Owens’ legal team is seeking clemency from Governor Henry McMaster.
Freddie Owens’ Case
Freddie Owens, who was executed on Friday, September 20, maintains his innocence. Owens was convicted and sentenced to death for the 1997 murder of store clerk Irene Graves in Greenville, South Carolina. In a significant turn of events, co-defendant Steven Golden has recanted his testimony, claiming Owens was not at the crime scene and that he lied out of fear and police pressure.
Owens’ attorneys argue that there is no physical or forensic evidence linking him to the murder, and the surveillance footage from the scene shows masked individuals who cannot be identified. Despite this, prosecutors contend that multiple witnesses testified Owens confessed to the crime, including his former girlfriend and friends.
An eyewitness to the killing of gas station clerk Irene Graves, a mother of three, now says Freddie Owens was not there during the murder. https://t.co/uYi8bg4Ekg
— The State Newspaper (@thestate) September 19, 2024
Golden’s Recantation
Steven Golden, who was sentenced to 28 years after pleading guilty to voluntary manslaughter, now asserts that Freddie Owens was not involved in the crime. In a recent statement, Golden claims, “I thought the real shooter or his associates might kill me if I named him to police. I am still afraid of that. But Freddie was not there.”
“I’m coming forward now because I know Freddie’s execution date is September 20 and I don’t want Freddie to be executed for something he didn’t do. This has weighed heavily on my mind and I want to have a clear conscience,” Golden wrote.
Despite Golden’s new affidavit, the South Carolina Supreme Court denied Owen’s motion for a new trial, pointing to inconsistencies in Golden’s statements and the lack of identification of the actual perpetrator. The Attorney General’s Office also noted that there was no rationale for Owens purportedly confessing to several people if he was not the shooter.
Just days before inmate Freddie Owens is set to die by lethal injection in South Carolina, the friend whose testimony helped send Owens to prison is saying he lied to save himself from the death chamber. https://t.co/FCdXMPRtdD
— World News Tonight (@ABCWorldNews) September 19, 2024
Last-Ditch Appeals and Execution Context
Owens’ legal team, spearheaded by attorney Gerald King, is making final appeals for clemency to Governor Henry McMaster. King and activists presented a petition with over 10,000 signatures, urging the Governor to commute Owens’ sentence to life in prison. As South Carolina prepares for its first execution in 13 years, the state’s decision on how to proceed is under intense scrutiny.
“Freddie Owens’ lawyers are maintaining his innocence despite a denied appeal to the South Carolina Supreme Court,” King expressed.
The state has not executed an inmate in over a decade due to difficulties in obtaining lethal injection drugs. To alleviate this, South Carolina has added firing squads as an option and revived the use of the electric chair. Currently, the state has 35 death row inmates, with five other inmates nearing the end of their appeals. Executions can be scheduled every five weeks.
Awaiting the Governor’s Decision
As Owens’ execution date approaced, all eyes were on Governor McMaster, who has the final say on whether to grant clemency. The case highlights the complexities and moral considerations of the death penalty, especially in light of new evidence and recanted testimonies. The Governor’s decision not to grant clemency will undeniably have significant ramifications on the broader conversation on capital punishment.
“There is no indication that Golden will testify; there is no reasoning to why Owens would admit the shooting (of) Ms. Graves to officers, his girlfriend, and his mother if he was not the shooter as now claimed,” the state Attorney General’s Office wrote.
Freddie Owens’ case underscores the need for thorough review and reconsideration of evidence, especially in capital punishment cases where life and death hang in the balance. The debate surrounding Owens’ conviction and new affidavit by Golden continues to hold public and legal attention as the execution date looms.
