LEFT TO DIE Firing squad ‘botched’ death row execution as inmate suffers ‘excruciating’ death bleeding out strapped to chair

| Published May 10, 2025

Execution by Firing Squad in South Carolina Raises Concerns

In South Carolina, a man named Mikal Mahdi was executed by firing squad on April 11, 2025. This method of execution had not been used in the U.S. for 15 years. Mahdi had chosen this method over lethal injection or the electric chair, believing it would be less painful.

However, an autopsy revealed that the execution did not go as planned. Only two bullets hit Mahdi, and neither struck his heart directly. Instead, the bullets hit other organs, causing him to remain conscious and in pain for up to a minute before he died. This is much longer than the 10 to 15 seconds that experts say should be the case for a properly conducted firing squad execution.

In July 2004, Mahdi went on a multi-state crime spree.AP

Mahdi’s lawyers have filed a report with the South Carolina Supreme Court, calling the execution a “botched” procedure. They argue that the state failed to follow its own guidelines for carrying out executions and that Mahdi suffered unnecessarily.

The South Carolina Department of Corrections disputes these findings, claiming that all three bullets hit Mahdi’s heart. They also noted that two of the bullets entered his body at the same spot, which has occurred during practice sessions.

This incident has sparked a wider debate about the use of firing squads for executions. Some argue that this method is more humane than others, while others believe it is outdated and prone to errors.

As of now, Mahdi’s body has been cremated, making further investigation into the execution difficult. The case continues to raise questions about the reliability and humanity of execution methods in the United States.

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The implications of the botched firing squad execution in South Carolina are significant on multiple fronts, including legal, ethical, and societal aspects. Here’s a breakdown:

🏛️ Legal Implications:

1. Potential Legal Challenges:

   • The botched execution could lead to lawsuits or challenges in the courts, especially if Mahdi’s lawyers prove that the state failed to follow proper procedures.

   • If the execution was indeed botched, it could set a precedent for other inmates challenging the constitutionality of firing squad executions, arguing they are cruel and unusual punishment under the Eighth Amendment.

2. State Accountability:

   • There may be greater scrutiny on the methods states use for capital punishment, especially if the execution process is found to be ineffective or violates the rights of inmates.

   • State officials could face legal consequences for not properly conducting the execution, including possible legal action for human rights violations.

Director of Communications at the South Carolina Department of Corrections Chrysti Shain speaks during a press conference after the execution of South Carolina inmate Mikal Mahdi in Columbia, S.C., Friday, April 11, 2025.AP

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⚖️ Ethical and Moral Implications:

1. Debate on Cruelty and Inhumanity:

   • The botched execution reignites the debate on whether execution methods like the firing squad are humane or outdated. If the process causes unnecessary suffering, it raises serious ethical concerns about the moral justification of the death penalty.

   • Critics argue that no execution method should leave an inmate in a state of suffering, especially if it fails to meet humane standards of a “quick and painless” death.

2. Human Rights Violations:

   • The failure to follow procedures and the resulting unnecessary suffering could be viewed as a human rights violation. International human rights organizations might condemn the incident and put pressure on the U.S. to reconsider or abolish the death penalty.

Signage stands outside the South Carolina Department of Corrections prior to the scheduled execution of South Carolina inmate Mikal Mahdi in Columbia, S.C., Friday, April 11, 2025.

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🏛️ Political Implications:

1. Death Penalty Debate:

   • The incident could strengthen arguments from anti-death penalty advocates, calling for the abolition of capital punishment altogether, especially in the U.S.

   • The political divide over the death penalty may widen, with some states pushing for more humane methods, while others continue to use controversial methods like firing squads.

2. Impact on Future Executions:

   • States that still employ the death penalty may rethink using firing squads or other less-traditional methods. The botched execution could prompt reviews of execution protocols and make states look for alternatives, like lethal injections or gas chambers, despite their own controversies.

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🌍 Global Implications:

1. International Repercussions:

   • The botched execution could harm the U.S.’s reputation on the international stage. Human rights organizations and other countries may criticize the U.S. for continuing to use capital punishment, especially with methods that result in unnecessary suffering.

   • Countries that have abolished the death penalty might use this case as an example of why the death penalty should be completely phased out.

2. Pressure for Reform:

   • This incident may increase pressure on the U.S. to reform its criminal justice system, not just in terms of execution methods, but also the broader handling of death row cases. International scrutiny could lead to further discussions on how the U.S. should handle executions in line with global human rights standards.

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🚨 Public Opinion:

1. Public Distrust in Execution Methods:

   • If the botched execution becomes a widely reported incident, it could lead to public distrust in the ability of state governments to carry out executions humanely and safely.

   • The public might demand better oversight or even push for the abolition of the death penalty altogether, especially if the event is seen as an example of the failures of the current system.

2. Media Attention and Coverage:

   • As this story continues to unfold, it will likely receive continued media coverage, which may stir public debate and influence politicians and voters to reconsider their positions on the death penalty.

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🧠 Overall Takeaway:

The botched execution in South Carolina raises questions about the death penalty’s fairness, its methods, and the legal and ethical standards governing such acts. Its implications stretch beyond the immediate case, potentially influencing legal precedents, public opinion, and political action on a national and international level.

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SOURCES: REDSTATE – ‘Botched’ South Carolina Execution Draws Scrutiny

THE TIMES OF INDIA – Lawyers for man executed by firing squad in South Carolina say bullets mostly missed his heart

THE SUN – LEFT TO DIE Firing squad ‘botched’ death row execution as inmate suffers ‘excruciating’ death bleeding out strapped to chair

THE NEW YORK POST – South Carolina firing squad ‘botched’ execution of cop killer Mikal Mahdi as bullets missed heart, left him alive ‘longer than was intended’

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