South Carolina executed Khalil Divine Black Sun Allah on Friday, the first execution in the state in over a decade, despite new evidence raising serious questions about his guilt. The 46-year-old, who had been convicted of the 1997 murder of Irene Graves, was killed by lethal injection. The execution came just days after a key witness in his case recanted, admitting that he had lied during the trial.
New Evidence Raises Doubts
Allah was sentenced to death for his involvement in the armed robbery and murder of convenience store cashier Irene Graves, a 41-year-old mother of three. Prosecutors based their case on the testimony of Steven Golden, Allah’s friend and co-defendant, who first claimed that Allah was the shooter. However, two days before his execution, Golden wrote an affidavit admitting that his original testimony was fraudulent.
In his statement, Golden stated that he was under the influence of drugs and was persuaded by police to incriminate Allah, stating, “I switched [Allah] for the person who was really with me.
He admitted that he had concealed the identity of the real shooter out of fear for his own safety. Despite this startling confession, the state attorney general argued that Golden’s recantation did not warrant a retrial. The courts sided with the prosecution, and Allah’s execution proceeded as scheduled.
No Forensic Evidence
One of the key concerns surrounding Allah’s conviction was the lack of forensic evidence tying him to the crime. Surveillance footage from the store showed two masked gunmen, but they could not be identified. Allah’s lawyers emphasized that no physical evidence linked him to the murder and that his conviction rested solely on Golden’s now-recanted testimony.
Further complicating the case, Allah was convicted without the jury being required to decide whether he was the one who pulled the trigger. His lawyers argued that a death sentence was inappropriate under these circumstances, especially given the absence of direct evidence.
Also Read: Labelling Trump’s lies as ‘disputed’ on X makes supporters believe them more, study finds
Legal Efforts to Stop the Execution
Allah’s lawyers fought tirelessly in his final days to postpone the execution. They filed emergency motions, citing Golden’s fresh testimony among other issues. However, both the state highest court and the United States highest Court denied the requests. Even South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster declined to interfere, saying he would not give clemency.
Before his execution, Allah was given the option of lethal injection, electrocution, or firing squad. However, because to his Muslim faith, he refused to choose any technique, considering it as akin to suicide. His attorney eventually chose lethal injection for him.
A Return to Executions
South Carolina has not carried out an execution since 2011, owing to difficulties in obtaining the required lethal injection medicines. However, a new shield law implemented last year, allowing the state to conceal the names of drug dealers, has cleared the way for the return of executions. Allah’s execution is the first of dozens planned by the state, with officials indicating that others will be carried out in the coming months.
Despite his execution, the case has renewed concerns about the justice of the death penalty, especially while suspicions about guilt persist. Khalil the Divine Black Sun Allah’s killing serves as a reminder of the legal system’s flaws and the irreversibility of capital punishment.
