Press Article: Botched Execution Raises Ethical Concerns in South Carolina
Columbia, S.C. — An execution by firing squad in South Carolina has sparked outrage and ethical debates after Mikal Mahdi, a convicted cop killer, reportedly suffered “excruciating” pain during what has been deemed a botched execution. On April 11, Mahdi, 42, was sentenced to death for murdering police officer James Myers during a 2004 crime spree. An autopsy revealed that none of the bullets successfully hit Mahdi’s heart; instead, he sustained injuries to his liver and other organs, remaining conscious and reacting for up to a minute following the shooting.
Pathologist Dr. Jonathan Arden, who reviewed the autopsy, stated that Mahdi experienced extreme pain after the shooting. This contradicts a prior ruling by the South Carolina Supreme Court, which concluded that shooting a prisoner would not be considered cruel if the pain lasts no longer than 15 seconds. Eyewitness reports indicated that Mahdi groaned and continued to breathe for nearly two minutes post-execution.
Critics, including Mahdi’s legal team, argue that such suffering violates the constitutional ban on cruel and unusual punishment. The events surrounding Mahdi’s execution have prompted calls for a reassessment of the state’s capital punishment methods, raising questions about human rights and the ethical implications of the death penalty in South Carolina.
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