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South Carolina to Carry Out First U.S. Execution of 2025
- Marion Bowman Jr. is set to be executed by lethal injection in South Carolina on January 31, 2025.
- Bowman was convicted in 2002 for the 2001 murder of his high school friend, Kandee Martin.
- Despite claiming innocence, Bowman’s appeals for a stay of execution have been denied.
South Carolina is set to carry out the first execution of 2025 in the United States, as Marion Bowman Jr. is scheduled to be put to death by lethal injection on Friday, January 31.
The 44-year-old death row inmate, who has been incarcerated since 2002, was convicted for the murder of 21-year-old Kandee Martin, a high school friend, in 2001.
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Bowman, who was 20 years old at the time of the crime, was sentenced to death after being found guilty of shooting Martin and disposing of her body in the trunk of her car, which was then set on fire.
Despite his conviction, Bowman has consistently maintained his innocence, stating that although he sold drugs to Martin, he was not involved in her murder.
In a statement shared by his lawyer, Bowman expressed remorse for Martin’s death but strongly denied committing the crime.
“I am so sorry for Kandee and her family, but I did not do it,” Bowman said. “I just don’t want to be executed or imprisoned for life for a crime that I didn’t commit.”
Throughout his years on death row, Bowman has filed numerous appeals, arguing that he was wrongfully convicted. One of his claims involved allegations that his trial attorney held racist attitudes, which, according to Bowman’s legal team, impacted his defense. Bowman, who is Black, was convicted of killing Martin, who was white. Additionally, his attorneys have raised concerns about the credibility of two key witnesses who testified against him in exchange for plea deals.
Bowman has also sought to delay his execution due to concerns about the possible complications associated with his size. Weighing nearly 400 pounds (180 kilograms), Bowman’s lawyers argue that his physical condition exposes him to the risk of a “potentially torturous execution process,” citing concerns about the effectiveness and safety of lethal injection.
Despite these appeals, all of Bowman’s efforts to delay or halt his execution have been denied. The execution is set for 6:00 p.m. (2300 GMT) at the Broad River Correctional Institution in Columbia, South Carolina.
The judge who denied Bowman’s request for a stay of execution noted that he had the option to choose other methods of execution, including the electric chair or firing squad, both of which are still legal in the state.
Bowman’s execution marks a grim milestone as the first of the year, following a year that saw 25 executions in the United States.
While lethal injection remains the most common method of execution, three of last year’s executions utilized the controversial method of nitrogen gas.
The use of the death penalty continues to be a divisive issue in the United States. It has been abolished in 23 states, while six others, including Arizona, California, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, and Tennessee, have instituted moratoriums on executions.
Despite this, some states, such as South Carolina, continue to carry out executions, with four more scheduled in the coming weeks, including two in Texas.
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The death penalty remains a contentious subject in American politics, with figures like President Donald Trump advocating for its expansion.
On his first day in office, Trump called for an increase in the use of capital punishment, particularly for “the vilest crimes,” a sentiment that continues to shape debates around the issue.
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