Botched firing squad

[Muhammed]

MSN

Story by Sarah Rumpf-Whitten
An inmate put to death last month in South Carolina's second firing squad execution was conscious and likely in extreme pain for up to a minute after the bullets missed their target, attorneys allege.

Dr. Jonathan Arden, a forensic pathologist hired by Mikal Mahdi's attorneys, alleged that the execution on April 11 was a "massive botch" after he completed an analysis of the autopsy findings, according to the pathologist's report, which was filed Thursday with a letter to the state Supreme Court.

Mahdi, 42, was convicted in the 2004 killings of an off-duty police officer in Calhoun County, South Carolina, and a convenience store clerk in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. He was sentenced to death for the murder of the officer and life in prison for the clerk's murder.

Arden's analysis alleged that only two bullets struck Mahdi, both low in the torso and well below the heart, contradicting protocol which requires three shots to the heart for rapid death.

The partial damage to Mahdi’s heart allowed continued circulation, leading Arden to determine that Mahdi likely remained conscious for up to 60 seconds after being shot.

Witnesses to the execution, according to The AP, heard Mahdi cry out as the shots were fired, groan again some 45 seconds later and let out one last low moan just before he appeared to draw his final breath at 75 seconds.

Comment:
What caliber gun was used?
If they used a shotgun slug or buckshot it would not matter if they missed the bullseye a little.
They should use fentanyl, because we know it works.
It's what killed George Floyd.

He killed a cop. I think they missed the heart on purpose to avenge a fellow LEO.

 

[theHawk]

Only three shooters?

 

[Muhammed]

Only three shooters?

How many does it take? I think one guy should be sufficient.

 

[westwall]

I wonder what the distance is.

Less than 25 feet

 

[gtopa1]

I always liked tying them to the front of a 105mm Howitzer and firing.

Oi; no fair!!! Where's the crim in front of it????

Greg

 

[luiza]

Arden's analysis alleged that only two bullets struck Mahdi, both low in the torso and well below the heart, contradicting protocol which requires three shots to the heart for rapid death.

Shame .
But Tough .
Life can be very cruel .Who promised otherwise?
He will have ample time to reflect on his fate before his next incarnation .

He will have few that are even sympathetic toward him , a double murderer .
A minute of possible agony for two lives .
Almost Nothing .

 

[strollingbones]

unfortunately electric chairs have been found to be the most "humane" and quickest method of execution
'
the reason the state quit using them is simple...deferred maintenance cause most of them to short circuit and then not work so well

here is an interesting comparison of methods of execution

Execution Method Descriptions | Death Penalty Information Center

The Death Penalty Information Center (DPI) is a national non-profit organization whose mission is to serve the media, policymakers, and the general public…

deathpenaltyinfo.org

 

[d0gbreath]

I'm just trying to imagine how bad a shot you'd have to be to miss a guy's heart (or body entirely) with a rifle at the distance of a firing squad.

I'm kinda thinking maybe they did it deliberately with only two in the gut as payback for killing that cop.

No one completely missed. If you have 6 riflemen, 4 of them get blanks, supposedly to keep them from knowing that they were the killer. Firing squads have always operated like that. The 2 with the real bullets were not good shots.

 

[MarathonMike]

No one completely missed. If you have 6 riflemen, 4 of them get blanks, supposedly to keep them from knowing that they were the killer. Firing squads have always operated like that. The 2 with the real bullets were not good shots.

It was a 3 man firing squad and according to the autopsy report all three bullets struck the heart:

The South Carolina Department of Corrections (SCDOC) commissioned an autopsy that found all three bullets struck Mahdi's heart, and that other statements are "interpretations" of what the examination showed.

 

[MarathonMike]

No one completely missed. If you have 6 riflemen, 4 of them get blanks, supposedly to keep them from knowing that they were the killer. Firing squads have always operated like that. The 2 with the real bullets were not good shots.

Typical knee jerk leftist d0gbreath gives me a 'fake news' instantly without researching.

 

[BackAgain]

Another factor n the prospect that the death penalty might be a good general deterrence. The next scumbag might think twice about committing a murder if he knows his own death might be a bit unpleasant.

I knew a prosecutor who used to advocate for bringing back “old Sparky” in NY. But of course, as a deterrent, it sucks since NY no longer even has a death penalty.

 

[BackAgain]

I would also suggest that the thread headline is mistaken.

The purpose of a firing squad is to execute the condemned inmate.

He’s dead. Ergo, it want “botched.”

 

[EvilCat Breath]

A MINUTE. A whole 60 seconds! No it was not botched.

 

[Blisterfinger]

Try a bazooka.

You are so stupid! Hahaha

 

[Mac-7]

Gee, that's too bad.

I know what you mean

He murdered two people

I have no sympathy for him