South Carolina is set to execute Khalil Divine Black Sun Allah, but a key witness has come forward to say that he lied, and Allah is innocent of the crimes he was convicted of nearly 25 years ago. The witness, Steven Golden, said in an explosive affidavit that Allah was not the person who shot the victim during an armed robbery in 1997.
Despite the new evidence, the state supreme court denied emergency motions to halt the execution, arguing that the new testimony was not enough to warrant a reprieve.
Allah, who was previously known as Freddie Owens, has proclaimed his innocence since his conviction, and there was no forensic evidence linking him to the crime. The state’s central evidence was Golden’s testimony, which he now recanted due to fear for his life.
Allah’s lawyers argue that his case was flawed from the beginning, with no jury explicitly ruling that he pulled the trigger. They also note his history of trauma and brain damage as mitigating factors that should prevent his execution.
If Allah is executed, it would be the first execution in 13 years in South Carolina. The state recently announced plans for five more executions, which could be carried out in rapid succession.
Advocates for alternatives to the death penalty have called for clemency for Allah, arguing that executing an innocent man would be a grave miscarriage of justice. Allah’s lawyers continue to fight for his life in light of the new evidence and the flaws in his original trial.
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Photo credit www.theguardian.com
