Richard Moore Set To Die By Lethal Injection, Sends Clemency Request

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If South Carolina executes 59-year-old Richard Moore, he will become the 45th individual to die by lethal injection since the death penalty was reinstated in 1976. Moore, who is Black, is scheduled to be executed at 6 p.m. on Nov. 1 for the fatal shooting of James Mahoney in 1999. However, he still has one final opportunity to avoid execution if his clemency request is approved by Republican Governor Henry McMaster.

MORE: Facing Execution, Richard Moore Told To Choose How South Carolina Will Kill Him

According to the Associated Press, Moore’s legal team has submitted a clemency petition, supported by three jurors who sentenced him to death in 2001. These jurors have written letters urging McMaster to reduce his sentence to life without the possibility of parole. They are joined by a former state prison director, Moore’s trial judge, his children, a group of childhood friends, and several pastors. Supporters describe Moore as “a faithful Christian” and a loving family man who has worked to foster peace and order in his current prison environment. They highlight his role as a mentor to fellow inmates, where he educates them about how his struggles with addiction clouded his judgment, leading to the tragic shootout that claimed Mahoney’s life.

https://x.com/ACLU_SC/status/1852368259317633185

Why did Richard Moore receive the death penalty?

Moore was convicted by an all-white jury for armed robbery and the murder of a white convenience store clerk. It is important to note that Moore entered the store unarmed; during the encounter, Mahoney drew a gun, and in the ensuing struggle, both men were shot—Moore in the arm and Mahoney fatally in the chest, according to The Guardian.  In his clemency request, Moore’s lawyers and supporters argue that the circumstances of the crime do not justify the death penalty, emphasizing that he lacked premeditation, as acknowledged by the state.

According to the clemency petition, former Supreme Court Justice Kaye Hearn was in support of commuting Moore’s sentence. “‘I think it’s tragic, I do not believe Richard Moore deserves to die,’” she said, the court document stated. Hearn also said that Moore’s impending execution indicates that the justice system is “not working as it should,” the request noted. 

Gov. McMaster will make a decision on Moore’s clemency today.

Gov. McMaster will not announce his decision on clemency until 5:45 p.m. Friday, he told reporters on Oct. 30, noting that he intended to review all of the evidence in the case “in a timely fashion.”

He added, “The death penalty is a very serious decision regardless of the circumstances. That’s a very permanent, very serious, awesome punishment, and it must be considered very, very carefully. “ 

Richard Moore profoundly regrets the choices he made that led to the tragic death of Mahoney in 1999. Over the past 25 years, he has spent time reflecting on the pain and loss he caused the Mahoney family, as well as the impact of his actions on his own loved ones, particularly his two children, Alexandria and Lyndall. While he knows he can never undo the harm he inflicted, Richard has committed himself to improving the lives of those around him by focusing on his own growth.

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