The scheduled execution of Khalil Divine Black Sun Allah in South Carolina has stirred controversy after the key prosecution witness, Steven Golden, recanted his testimony two days before the execution date. Golden admitted to lying at trial, asserting that Allah was wrongly convicted and that he was not present during the robbery and murder for which he was sentenced to death.
Allah, who was previously known as Freddie Owens, was convicted in 1997 of the armed robbery and murder of a convenience store cashier named Irene Graves. Despite lack of forensic evidence and only witness testimony tying him to the crime, Allah has maintained his innocence.
Golden, the key witness against Allah, claimed in a new affidavit that he falsely incriminated Allah under pressure from law enforcement and prosecutors. Despite this new evidence, the South Carolina Supreme Court denied emergency motions to halt the execution, stating that the evidence was not enough to warrant a reprieve.
Allah’s lawyers have filed a clemency petition with the governor’s office to stop the execution. Advocates against the death penalty have raised concerns about the possibility of executing an innocent man and stressed the need for justice and accountability in the case.
If executed, Allah would be the first person put to death in South Carolina in 13 years. His case has drawn attention to flaws in the criminal justice system and the need for a thorough review of evidence in death penalty cases.
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