Title: Controversy Surrounds Execution of South Carolina Death Row Inmate Amid Witness Recanting Testimony
South Carolina is facing intense scrutiny as they prepare to execute Khalil Divine Black Sun Allah, a death row inmate, on Friday at 6pm. This decision comes after a bombshell revelation by the key prosecution witness, Steven Golden, who recanted his testimony, stating that Allah was innocent and not present during the robbery and murder case for which he was convicted in 1997. Despite the defense's emergency motions and pleas for clemency, the state supreme court has ruled that the execution will proceed. Allah's fate now rests on a potential grant of clemency from the state's governor.

Allah, formerly known as Freddie Owens, has been convicted of the armed robbery and murder of Irene Graves, a convenience store cashier, in November 1997. The case against him was primarily based on the testimony of his co-defendant, Steven Golden, who implicated Allah in the crime. However, just days before the scheduled execution, Golden signed an affidavit confessing that he had lied in his testimony and that Allah was not involved in the shooting of Graves. Golden cited being pressured and under the influence of drugs when he initially accused Allah as the shooter.

The defense has argued that the new evidence presented by Golden should warrant a new trial for Allah, emphasizing that executing a possibly innocent man is a grave miscarriage of justice. Prosecutors, on the other hand, maintain that there is other evidence pointing to Allah's guilt, including alleged confessions made to family members. The state supreme court has sided with the prosecutors, rejecting the claims of exceptional circumstances warranting a delay or new trial. Allah has been given the option of lethal injection, electrocution, or firing squad, with his attorney choosing lethal injection on his behalf.