S.C. prosecutor defends execution, calling killer ‘the epitome of evil’
COLUMBIA, S.C. (WIS) - First Circuit Solicitor David Pascoe released a response to calls from state lawmakers urging the state government to investigate the execution of a death row inmate.
Reps. Justin Bamberg (D-Bamberg) and Neal Collins (R-Pickens) sent a letter Monday addressed to Gov. Henry McMaster as well as leaders of both State House chambers and Joel Anderson, acting director of the South Carolina Department of Corrections.
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The lawmakers say they believe the execution of Mikal Mahdi was mishandled by the state.
Mahdi was sentenced to death after being convicted of a 2004 crime spree that resulted in the deaths of 29-year-old Christopher Boggs and 56-year-old James Myers, a captain with the Orangeburg Department of Public Safety.
He chose to be executed by firing squad.
After Mahdi’s death in April, his legal team filed a complaint with the South Carolina Supreme Court that argued his execution was mishandled. According to the complaint, this was because the shooters allegedly missed Mahdi’s heart, which was the intended target area.
Pascoe was the prosecutor who led the charge to convict Mahdi and eventually sentence him to death.
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“I sought the death penalty for Mikal Mahdi because he is the epitome of evil,” said Pascoe. “As I said in my closing statement, ‘His heart and mind are full of hate and malice.’ This is a man who killed three people, including a police officer whom he doused in fuel and set on fire.”
In his statement, Pascoe called on Gov. Henry McMaster to release Mahdi’s autopsy report, a document which is already public.
“I see liberal trial lawyers in South Carolina complaining about the way we put this monster to death,” continued Pascoe. “I call on Governor McMaster to release the autopsy report so that these soft-on-crime attorneys can see that all three bullets struck Mahdi’s heart. Their agenda isn’t just to shed tears for this evil murderer but to have the death penalty ended in South Carolina. I will fight them on this hill to make sure victims get justice from our legal system.”
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McMaster said he disagreed with calls for an investigation into the execution.
“I think we went through all of those questions in debating the law itself and whether that should be allowed,” said McMaster. “I think that the procedures that were set up and took a lot of study and analysis to set up the procedures. I think they’re proper. I do not think there needs to be any inquiry into it further.”
You can read Bamberg and Collins’ full request below:
Pascoe, who has been serving as First Circuit Solicitor since 2005, made headlines recently when he announced he was moving from the Democratic Party to the Republican Party.
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