South Carolina executes Marion Bauman, junior: “I’m innocent of the crimes I am here to die” – WSWS

South Carolina’s state seal includes an image of Special, the Roman goddess of hope, accompanied by the words “Dum Spiro Spect”, Latin for “While I breathe, I hope.” On Friday, January 31, the state carried out the execution of Marion Bauman, Jr., throwing their breath and life. He had spent more than half his life in death.

Bowman’s was the first US execution of 2025 and the third in South Carolina since 2011, when the state informally stopped executions as pharmaceutical companies stopped delivering deadly injection drugs, fearing concerns about the suffering of the executed. The state has restored its delivery to deadly drugs after adopting law in 2023, protecting the identity of suppliers.

The execution comes in the context of Trump’s executive order, calling for an extensive expansion of the death penalty.

Bauman was convicted of the murder in 2001 of the 21 -year -old Kanda Martin, a childhood friend. At 44, he was 20 years old when he was arrested for the murder. He constantly maintains his innocence.

The sentenced prisoner was brought to the execution camera at the Men’s Correctional Institution in Colombia shortly after 18:00 local time. According to media witnesses, he was attached to Gurney and was sunk with a leaf. After being injected with a lethal dose of the sedative pentobarbital, his breathing became heavy and his head rose up and down before he was still around 18:07, he was declared dead by prison staff at 6:27 pm.

Bauman’s final statement was read by his lawyer Boyd Young. It reads, in part:

I did not kill Kanda Martin. I am innocent of the crimes I am here to die for …

I know Candy’s family is in pain. They are justifiably angry. If my death brings them some relief and ability to focus on good times and funny stories, then I guess it will serve a goal. I hope they find peace …

I have nothing to give to my family, friends and supporters, but I have won so much. I tried to give a good return on your investment with love and care …

Over the years, I have learned that we have been labeled as the worst of the worst. None of these guys I got to know and grew up to love are the people who were when they had their own moment that cost them everything.

If the world could see us on our day, they would have a different view of the death penalty. We all pray for grace and forgiveness, but the outside world is stuck with images of monsters committed by the state while our true voices are muted.

The main witnesses against Bauman were two men charged with the crime who received reduced sentences, plus a third man who had pending charges in a separate case, which had subsequently dropped out.