A death row inmate’s final words have been revealed shortly after he was executed by lethal injection.
Richard Moore apologised to the family of his victim – convenience store clerk James Mahoney – and told his children and granddaughters ‘I love you and am so proud of you’.
The 59-year South Carolina inmate was pronounced dead at 6:24pm local time on Friday for the 1999 murder of Mr Mahoney.
His final meal was steak cooked medium, fried catfish and shrimp, scalloped potatoes, green peas, broccoli with cheese, sweet potato pie, German chocolate cake and grape juice.
Following the execution, prison spokeswoman Chrysti Shain read his last words at a news conference.
‘To the family of Mr James Mahoney, I am deeply sorry for the pain and sorrow I caused you all,’ he said.
‘To my children and granddaughters, I love you and am so proud of you. Thank you for the joy you have brought to my life.
‘To all of my family and friends, new and old, thank you for your love and support.’
A vigil was held outside the prison ahead of the execution and it came amid broad appeals for mercy by parties that included three jurors and the judge from his trial, a former prison director, pastors and members of his family.
Moore – who had sat on death row since being convicted of murder in 2001 – went into the store unarmed, took a gun from Mr Mahoney when it was pointed at him and fatally shot him in the chest as the victim shot him with a second gun in the arm.
Moore´s lawyers had asked Republican governor Henry McMaster to reduce his sentence to life without parole because of his spotless prison record and willingness to mentor other inmates.
They also said it would be unjust to execute someone for what could be considered self-defense and unfair that Moore, who was Black, was the only inmate on the state’s death row convicted by a jury without any African Americans.
But Mr McMaster refused. In a letter, he did not say why but said he reviewed everything submitted by Moore´s lawyers and spoke to the victim’s family.
Unlike in previous executions, the curtain to the death chamber was open when media witnesses arrived.
Moore had his eyes closed, and his head was pointed toward the ceiling. A prison employee announced the execution could begin at 6:01pm.
He took several deep breaths that sounded like snores over the next minute.
Then he took some shallow breaths until about 6:04pm, when his breathing stopped. Moore showed no obvious signs of discomfort.
Lindsey Vann, his lawyer of 10 years, cried as the employee announced the execution could start. She clutched a prayer bracelet with a cross.
Sitting beside her was a spiritual advisor, his hands on his knees, palms up. Ms Vann clutched a prayer bracelet with a cross.
Two members of the victims’ family were also present, along with solicitor Barry Barnette, who was on the prosecution team that convicted Moore. They all watched stoically.
Three jurors who condemned Moore to death in 2001 and who had asked Mr McMaster to change his sentence to life without parole, were also present.
They were joined by a former state prison director, Moore’s trial judge, his son and daughter, a half-dozen childhood friends and several pastors.
They all said Moore was a changed man who loved God, doted on his new grandchildren, helped guards keep the peace and mentored other prisoners, according to the clemency petition.
‘He was not a danger to anyone, and the state eliminated a glowing example of reform and rehabilitation,’ the Justice 360 law firm, which represented Moore, said in a statement.
‘By killing Richard, the state also created more victims. Richard´s children are now fatherless, and his grandchildren will have to grow up without their `Pa Pa.”
Moore previously had two execution dates postponed and is the 45th execution in the state since the US Supreme Court allowed states to restart them nearly 50 years ago.
Four more are out of appeals, and the state appears ready to put them to death in five-week intervals through the spring. There are now 30 people on death row.
The governor said before the execution that he would carefully review everything sent by Moore’s lawyers and, as is customary, wait until minutes before the execution started to announce his decision.
‘Clemency is a matter of grace, a matter of mercy. There is no standard. There is no real law on it,’ McMaster told reporters Thursday.
Prosecutors and Mr Mahoney’s relatives made no comment on the execution. In the past, family members have said they suffered deeply and wanted justice to be served.
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