South Carolina executes Richard Moore despite pleas for clemency

South Carolina put Richard Moore to death by lethal injection Friday for the 1999 killing of a convenience store clerk, despite widespread calls for clemency from parties that included three jurors and the judge in the case, a former prison director, pastors and his family.

Moore, 59, was pronounced dead at 6:24 p.m.

Moore was convicted of murdering a Spartanburg convenience store clerk in September 1999 and sentenced to death two years later. Moore entered the store unarmed, took the victim’s gun when it was pointed at him, and fatally shot him in the chest when the victim shot him in the arm with a second gun.

Moore’s lawyers asked Republican Gov. Henry McMaster to commute his sentence to life without parole because of his spotless prison record and willingness to be a mentor to other inmates. They also said it would be unfair to execute someone for what could be considered self-defense, and it was unfair that Moore, who is Black, was the only inmate on the state’s death row convicted by a jury without any African Americans.

But McMaster refused to grant clemency. No South Carolina governor has commuted his death sentence. and 45 executions have now been carried out since the U.S. Supreme Court allowed states to resume executions nearly 50 years ago.

Unlike previous executions, when media witnesses arrived, the curtain on death row was open. Moore’s last words were already read by Lindsey Vann, his lawyer with 10 years of experience.

Moore’s eyes were closed and his head was directed towards the ceiling. A prison official announced that the execution could begin at 6:01 p.m. Over the next minute, Moore took several deep breaths that sounded like snoring. He then took several shallow breaths until about 6:04 a.m., when his breathing stopped. Moore showed no obvious signs of discomfort.

Vann cried as the officer announced the execution could begin. She was clutching a prayer bracelet with a cross. The spiritual guide sat next to her with his hands on his knees, palms up. Vann clutched a prayer bracelet with a cross.

Also present were two family members of the victims, as well as defense attorney Barry Barnett, who was on the prosecution team that sentenced Moore. Everyone watched stoically.

Prison spokeswoman Christy Shane then read his final words at a news conference.

“To the family of Mr. James Mahoney: I am deeply sorry for the pain and sadness I have 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 brought into my life. To all my family and friends, new and old, thank you for your love and support.”

His last meal was medium rare steak, fried catfish and shrimp, scalloped potatoes, green peas, broccoli and cheese, sweet potato pie, German chocolate cake and grape juice.

Three jurors who sentenced Moore to death in 2001, including one who wrote “Friday,” sent letters to McMaster asking him to change the sentence to life in prison without parole. They were joined by former state prison director Judge Moore, his son and daughter, a half-dozen childhood friends and several pastors.

They all said Moore, 59, was a changed man who loved God, loved his new grandchildren as best he could, helped guards keep the peace and mentored other inmates after his drug addiction clouded his judgment and led to the shooting. in which James Mahoney was killed, according to the petition for clemency.

Moore previously had two execution dates postponed as the state grappled with problems that led to a 13-year pause in the death penalty, including companies refusing to sell lethal injections to the state, a hurdle that was resolved by passing a secrecy law.

Moore is the second inmate executed in South Carolina since executions resumed. Four more people cannot be appealed, and the state appears poised to execute them every five weeks until the spring. There are currently 30 people on death row.

Before the execution, the governor said he would carefully consider everything Moore’s lawyers sent and, as usual, would wait a few minutes before the execution began to announce his decision once he heard by phone that all appeals had been completed.

“Mercy is a matter of grace, a matter of mercy. There is no standard here. There is no real law,” McMaster told reporters Thursday.

In a video interview that accompanied his clemency petition, Moore expressed remorse for killing Mahoney.

“This is definitely a part of my life that I would like to change. I took a life. I took someone’s life. I destroyed the family of the deceased,” Moore said. “I pray for forgiveness for this particular family.”

Prosecutors and Mahoney’s relatives did not speak publicly in the weeks leading up to the execution. In the past, family members have said they are deeply hurt and want justice to be served.

Moore’s lawyers said his original lawyers did not thoroughly analyze the crime scene and left unchallenged prosecutors’ contention that Moore, who arrived at the store unarmed, shot at the customer and that his intent all along was robbery.

They say the clerk pulled a gun on Moore after they argued because he was 12 cents short on something he wanted to buy.

Moore said he wrestled the gun out of Mahoney’s hands and the clerk pulled out a second weapon. Moore was shot in the arm and returned fire, hitting Mahoney in the chest. Moore then went behind the counter and stole approximately $1,400.

According to Moore’s current lawyers, no one on death row in South Carolina began their crime unarmed or without the intent to kill.

John Ozmint, a former prosecutor who was director of the South Carolina Department of Corrections from 2003 to 2011 and joined those asking for clemency, said Moore’s case was not the worst of the worst crimes that typically prompt a death penalty case.

There are many people who were not sentenced to death but committed much worse crimes, Ozmint said, citing the example of Todd Kohlhepp, who was sentenced to life in prison after pleading guilty to killing seven people, including a woman who he raped and tortured for several days. .

Lawyers for Moore, who is Black, also said he received an unfair trial. There were no African Americans on the jury, although 20% of Spartanburg County residents were black.

Moore’s son and daughter said he remained involved in their lives. One day he asked them about their school activities and gave them advice in letters. Now he had grandchildren whom he saw on video calls.

“Even though my dad wasn’t home, it still didn’t stop him from having a big impact on my life, a positive impact,” said Alexandria Moore, who joined the Air Force at her father’s encouragement.