The highest court in South Carolina has dismissed the last significant appeal of Mikal Mahdi, paving the way for his execution by firing squad later in the week. Mahdi, convicted for the ambush killing of an off-duty police officer, had his case argued on the grounds of ineffective defense during his original trial. His legal team criticized the initial defense for not calling witnesses familiar with Mahdi and neglecting the impact of his solitary confinement experiences as a teenager.
The South Carolina Supreme Court ruled unanimously that these arguments had already been considered in prior appeals, thus denying the request to halt the execution scheduled for Friday. Mahdi, who admitted to the ambush killing of the officer in Calhoun County, is set to be the fifth person executed in the state within a span of eight months, with all making failed final appeals to the court.
Mahdi’s remaining chance to avoid execution lies in petitioning Governor Henry McMaster to commute his sentence to life imprisonment without parole. The execution is set to occur at 6 p.m. on April 11 at the Broad River Correctional Institution in Columbia, involving a firing squad aiming three bullets to the heart. Historically, South Carolina governors have not granted clemency in the 47 executions carried out since the reinstatement of the death penalty in 1976.
Mahdi, 41, was convicted of murdering James Myers, an Orangeburg Public Safety officer, in 2004. He shot the officer multiple times and subsequently burned the body. Myers was discovered by his wife in a shed that had served as their wedding venue 15 months prior. This shed was located near a gas station where Mahdi unsuccessfully attempted a fuel purchase using a stolen credit card, abandoning a carjacked vehicle from Columbia. He was arrested later in Florida, driving the officer’s unmarked police truck.
Additionally, Mahdi confessed to the murder of a convenience store clerk in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, three days before Officer Myers’ death. Convicted for this crime, Mahdi received a life sentence. In the case of Officer Myers, Mahdi’s guilty plea left the sentencing decision between death or life imprisonment to a judge under South Carolina law. The prosecution presented 28 witnesses, while the defense called only two, drawing criticism for the brevity of their case.
During a 2011 appeal held inside a prison due to Mahdi’s escape attempt and subsequent guard stabbing, further evidence was presented. However, the appeal was dismissed. Mahdi’s violent tendencies have been documented during his incarceration, including possession of escape tools and assaults on prison staff.
As the second individual to face execution by firing squad in South Carolina, following Brad Sigmon last month, Mahdi’s case highlights the rare use of this execution method. Historically, the firing squad has been associated with military justice, frontier punishment, and political repression. Across the U.S., only three other inmates have been executed by firing squad in the past five decades, all in Utah. Mahdi was also given the option of electrocution or lethal injection.
The Bottom Line
- South Carolina’s approach to capital punishment remains stringent, reflected in the state’s refusal to halt Mahdi’s execution despite appeals.
- The reinstatement of methods like the firing squad underscores ongoing debates about humane execution practices.
- Legal representation quality and its impact on the outcomes of high-stakes cases remain significant concerns, highlighted by Mahdi’s defense challenges.
- The case draws attention to issues surrounding solitary confinement’s psychological effects on inmates, especially when applied to juveniles.
- Mahdi’s case further illustrates the broader implications of criminal justice policies and the potential for reform in states practicing capital punishment.