South Carolina Supreme Court Denies Execution Method Query Amid Controversy
COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — The South Carolina Supreme Court has unanimously dismissed a request for additional information regarding the firing squad, following concerns raised by inmate Stephen Stanko about the recent execution of Mikal Mahdi, who allegedly suffered a prolonged death. Scheduled for execution on June 13, Stanko’s legal team argued that Mahdi’s execution appeared botched, as autopsy results indicated that his heart was barely hit, potentially causing him to endure pain for significantly longer than anticipated.
Stanko, 57, has been sentenced to death for two separate murders: the 2006 shooting of his 74-year-old friend Henry Turner and the violent assault of his girlfriend and her daughter. As he weighs his execution options—firing squad, lethal injection, or electric chair—his lawyers sought further details on the firing squad’s protocols, citing that Mahdi’s death lacked rigorous forensic analysis.
The Supreme Court, however, stated that the defense failed to demonstrate any protocol violations during Mahdi’s execution, thus denying their request. Stanko’s case highlights the ongoing debate surrounding execution methods in South Carolina, especially as the state resumes using firing squads.
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