The state of South Carolina is gearing up to carry out its first execution in over a decade as inmate Freddie Owen's scheduled lethal injection is set for Friday at 6 p.m. Despite recent developments, the South Carolina Supreme Court has denied requests to halt Owen's execution following a sworn statement from a key witness recanting his testimony. The witness, Steven Golden, who initially played a significant role in Owens' conviction, has now come forward claiming he lied to authorities under pressure to escape the death penalty himself.

Owen's lawyers filed Golden's statement, asserting that Owens was not present at the scene of the crime where a convenience store clerk, Irene Graves, was killed during a robbery in 1997. Golden cited fear of retaliation as his reason for providing false testimony against Owens. Prosecutors, however, maintain that multiple witnesses testified Owens confessed to pulling the trigger. Golden's admission of giving misleading information prompted doubts about his credibility, with prosecutors arguing that his changed story is insufficient to obstruct Owens' execution.

The South Carolina Supreme Court, upholding its decision to proceed with Owens' execution, highlighted the lack of substantial evidence indicating another perpetrator in the murder. Golden's claim of implicating Owens out of coercion from law enforcement and fear for his safety seemed unconvincing to the court. Despite pleas from Owens' legal team advocating for a fair hearing for Golden, the court reasoned that other testimonies linking Owens to the crime, including confessions made to friends and his former girlfriend, were compelling enough to validate the execution.