South Carolina: Marion Bowman Jr. executed – despite consistent claim of innocence
On Friday evening, 44-year-old Marion Bowman Jr. was executed in the US state of South Carolina with a lethal injection in the form of an overdose of pentobarbital.
He was sentenced to death because he was held responsible for the murder of a 21-year-old woman in 2001.
In his final words, Bowman declared: “I did not kill Kandee Martin. I am innocent of the crimes for which I am here to die.”
Regarding the victim’s family, he said, “If my death gives them relief and allows them to focus on the good times and funny stories, then I guess it has served its purpose. I hope they find peace.”
Bowman has consistently maintained his innocence since his arrest. His public defender didn’t believe him and also had racial biases, his supporters said. There had been no physical evidence.
Testimony from friends and family members that led to the conviction came about because of perks that effectively “paid” the witnesses, Bowman’s appellate attorneys said.
Bowman had rejected the offer of a plea deal that would have given him a life sentence in exchange for a confession, rather than a death sentence, because he maintained his innocence.