The South Carolina Supreme Court has cleared the way for convicted murderer Brad Sigmon’s execution by firing squad, rejecting his final appeal. Sigmon, who was sentenced to death for brutally killing his ex-girlfriend’s parents with a baseball bat in 2002, argued for a delay to reassess the drugs used in lethal injections. He opted for execution by firing squad over the electric chair, citing fears of a painful death. His attorneys also contended that his trial lawyer failed to present adequate evidence of mental health issues.
Sigmon, now 67, expressed in a confession his intent to kill both his ex-girlfriend and himself after luring her to a romantic getaway. His execution is set to take place at the Broad River Correctional Facility. This marks the first firing squad execution in the U.S. in 15 years. Concerns have been raised about the new lethal injection protocol, revealing issues with previous executions that may have caused suffering. Sigmon’s attorneys and supporters have criticized the execution methods and advocate for clemency from Republican Governor Henry McMaster, emphasizing that Sigmon has been a model prisoner. The governor’s decision regarding clemency is pending before the execution.
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