Mikal Mahdi Executed by Firing Squad in South Carolina's Second Execution in Five Weeks
Mikal Mahdi was executed by firing squad in South Carolina, marking the state's second firing squad execution in five weeks.
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Overview
Mikal Mahdi, 42, was executed by firing squad on April 11, 2025, for the 2004 murder of officer James Myers. Mahdi's execution comes just five weeks after another similar execution in South Carolina. He chose the firing squad over other methods, such as lethal injection. Witnesses reported Mahdi cried out as he was shot three times in the heart and took approximately 80 seconds to die. His last meal included ribeye steak and cheesecake. Mahdi had a long history of violence, with multiple convictions, and was the fifth inmate executed in South Carolina since September.
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Analysis
- The execution of Mikal Mahdi has sparked debate around the methods and ethics of capital punishment, particularly the firing squad, seen as a controversial yet increasingly utilized execution method in South Carolina.
- Mahdi's defense emphasizes the need for mental health assessments in capital cases, arguing his troubled upbringing was not adequately presented during the trial, potentially impacting the fairness of his sentencing.
- As South Carolina resumes executions, concerns arise about due process and the treatment of inmates during trials, with advocates calling for reassessment of the death penalty's application.
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FAQ
Mikal Mahdi chose the firing squad method because it was considered the lesser of three evils compared to lethal injection or the electric chair, given the potential pain and suffering associated with those methods.
Mikal Mahdi was executed for the murder of Orangeburg Public Safety Officer James Myers in 2004. He was also convicted of killing Christopher Boggs, a convenience store clerk in North Carolina.
South Carolina resumed executions after lawmakers allowed the use of the firing squad and passed legislation keeping suppliers of lethal injection drugs secret, along with the procedures and personnel involved in executions.
Mikal Mahdi was executed by firing squad on April 11, 2025. He was shot at 6:01 p.m. and pronounced dead at 6:05 p.m.
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