By james art 
Columbia, SC – South Carolina executed Marion Bauman, Jr. on January 31, 2025, marking the third execution of the state as the death penalty last September. A deadly injection carried out at the Correctional Institution of the River, around 18:27, restored discussions on the judicial processes of the state and ethics around the death penalty.
The 44-year-old Bauman was convicted of the murder in 2001 by 21-year-old Kanda Martin, whose charred body was found abandoned in the trunk of a burning car. Forever maintaining his innocence, Bauman continued to confess his lack of guilt until his last moments. “I didn’t kill Martin. I am innocent of the crimes I am here to die, “he said through his lawyer as he was preparing for execution.
His case, which was carefully monitored by defenders against the death penalty, focuses on claiming basic injustices during his trial. “Marion has steadily maintained his innocence … However, he has already spent more than half of his life in the death of death,” says Lindsay Van, an appellate lawyer at Bowman. The prosecutor’s office relies heavily on testimonies from friends and members of the Martin family, some of whom received favorable legal transactions, raising questions about the reliability of their statements.
The essence of Bauman’s conviction returns to his interaction with Martin, whom he noted that he was his friend, and a negligent acquaintance. According to court proceedings, the two previously dealt with drug -related exchange. Bauman’s defense claims that his original lawyer had shown insufficient representation and addiction to bias, more special given the racial dynamics, since both Bauman and Martin were black and white respectively.
The events leading to Martin’s death included Bauman’s threats, as told during the trial where he requested debt payment. The testimonies describe in detail how he supposedly shot Martin after accusing her of carrying a recording device and fearing he would turn against him. “I killed Martin. I do not participate in this, do not worry about it, “Bowman said he told friends after a crime, according to the testimonies presented during the process.
Governor Henry McMaster, who received petitions, urging him to travel with Bauman’s sentence, declined to request. No governor of South Carolina has provided a pardon to any capital defendant after the recovery of the death penalty.
Out of prison protests on the day of execution spoiled on social media, with activists chanting songs and carrying banners opposed to the death penalty. Local organizations have expressed concerns about the validity of the justice process, emphasizing cases such as Bowman as indicative of systemic defects. “Death is final and I just don’t think there is enough security in the justice system,” said one of the protesters who stood at the prison gates.
Bauman’s execution was the first to take place after the US Supreme Court refused to intervene on his behalf. The South Carolina Supreme Court also dismissed his latest complaint, which cited inadequate legal representation and the detention of key evidence during the trial.
His legal team struggled to the end, expressing dissatisfaction with both the judicial result and what they called the “insurmountable obstacles” with which he encountered during court proceedings. The revelations surrounding the passage of the South Carolina Criminal System to the use of Pentobarbital for deadly injections, after years of difficulty in extracting execution drugs, also escalated concerns about transparency and ethical standards.
Bowman’s last food consisted of fried seafood, chicken wings, onion rings, banana pudding and German chocolate cake. Witnesses reported his emotional last words, where he admitted that the pain suffered by Martin’s family: “If my death brought them some relief and the ability to focus on the good times and funny stories, then I guess it would serve it to aim. I hope they find peace of mind. “This reflection on his relationships and his regrets echoed through the comments made by his aunt, who emphasized his character, stating,” Marion was kind … always trying to build others. “
The execution marks the third, as South Carolina resumed the death penalty after more than 13 years. The state expressed plans to continue with more execution, with three additional prisoners expecting dates as their appeals are also exhausted. Of course, the defenders of the reform continue to express concerns about the justice of the trials and the lasting consequences for the families on both sides of the spectrum.
The debate about the effectiveness and morality of the death penalty is expected to be retained, as community reactions formulate, nourished by the realities of cases such as Marion Bauman Jr. His difficult position is an example of the complexity and emotional burden of the death penalty discussions.