In a shocking turn of events, a South Carolina man named Mikal Mahdi was executed by firing squad on April 11, 2023. Recent findings from an autopsy commissioned by the state indicate that Mahdi may have endured prolonged suffering due to shooters missing his heart during the execution. This tragic incident raises serious questions about the methods used in capital punishment and the implications for future executions in the state.
During the execution, Mahdi was shot by a three-person firing squad. However, the autopsy revealed only two wounds on his chest, contrary to the expected three. Alarmingly, none of the bullets struck his heart directly, which is supposed to result in a quick death during such procedures. Instead, the wounds inflicted damage to his liver and other internal organs, allowing his heart to continue beating, likely causing him significant pain and suffering while he was still conscious.
Dr. Carl Wigren, a forensic pathologist who reviewed the autopsy documents, stated, "He's not going to die instantaneously from this. I think that it took him some time to bleed out." This assertion highlights the distressing reality that Mahdi may have experienced excruciating pain for up to 60 seconds following the shooting.
On May 8, Mahdi's legal team notified the South Carolina Supreme Court that they believed the execution had been botched. They referenced the state autopsy and a forensic report from Dr. Jonathan Arden, which concluded, "Mr. Mahdi did experience excruciating conscious pain and suffering for about 30 to 60 seconds after he was shot." This information raises significant constitutional issues, as both South Carolina's constitution and the U.S. Constitution prohibit cruel and unusual punishment.
In 2021, South Carolina passed a law permitting prisoners to choose the firing squad as a method of execution, supplementing existing options like the electric chair and lethal injection. However, this law has faced legal challenges, and in 2024, the South Carolina Supreme Court ruled that all three methods of execution were legal. The court justified the firing squad's use by asserting that a prisoner would not suffer longer than 15 seconds, barring any significant error during the execution.
Mahdi's lawyers firmly believe that a "massive botch" occurred during his execution, as all shooters failed to hit the heart. This raises questions about the training and protocols followed by the firing squad. Notably, unlike Utah, where not all members of the firing squad shoot live bullets, all three shooters in South Carolina were supposed to fire live ammunition.
Interestingly, the autopsy indicated that the two wounds on Mahdi's body were almost identical in size, leading pathologists to express skepticism over the claim that two bullets could have entered through the same small hole. Dr. Wigren remarked, "I think the odds of that are pretty minuscule."
One month prior to Mahdi's execution, Brad Sigmon became the first individual to be executed by firing squad in South Carolina. Sigmon's case showed three bullet wounds near his heart, indicating a successful execution. Autopsy reports from prior lethal injections also revealed significant issues, with prisoners requiring multiple doses of sedatives and enduring prolonged deaths.
In contrast, Mahdi's autopsy was poorly documented. His legal team received only one photo of his torso showing the two bullet wounds, without any X-rays or additional images, raising concerns about transparency and accountability in the execution process.
David Weiss, one of Mahdi's lawyers who attended the execution, described a harrowing scene. He observed Mahdi pushing against his restraints and noted that the target seemed to be positioned low on his chest. After the shots were fired, Mahdi cried out, struggled to breathe, and groaned multiple times before ultimately succumbing. These accounts corroborate the findings of Dr. Arden, who concluded that Mahdi was alive and reacting longer than anticipated.
Following the execution, Mahdi's legal team expressed their determination to shed light on the circumstances of his death and prevent future incidents of similar nature. Weiss stated, "They largely missed our client's heart. I hope we can figure out a way to ensure this doesn't have to happen to anybody else." The troubling details surrounding Mikal Mahdi's execution underscore the urgent need for reform and thorough investigation into capital punishment practices in South Carolina and beyond.
