- Autopsy shows 2/3 bullets missed target area during April execution
- Condemned inmate suffered 75-second death with lung trauma
- Official report omitted X-rays & clothing analysis critical to investigation
- Second SC firing squad execution in 2024 showed starkly different results
The controversial execution of Mikal Mahdi has exposed critical flaws in South Carolina's capital punishment protocols. Forensic analysis reveals three volunteer shooters failed to deliver the intended quick death, with two bullets striking below the heart and causing catastrophic abdominal injuries. Witness accounts describe audible distress lasting over a minute - four times longer than projected outcomes for firing squad executions.
Dr. Jonathan Arden's independent review contradicts state findings, noting the execution team placed the chest target 3-4 inches lower than standard anatomical guidelines. This positioning caused rounds to penetrate the liver and pancreas rather than the cardiac chamber. Correctional officials declined to comment on marksmanship training procedures protected under the state's execution shield law.
Comparative analysis with Brad Sigmon's 2023 firing squad death reveals troubling inconsistencies. Sigmon's autopsy documented three distinct entry wounds and complete heart destruction, with officials preserving clothing evidence and conducting X-rays. Legal advocates argue Mahdi's case demonstrates dangerous variability in execution practices, particularly concerning for a state with 26 death row inmates.
The lack of ballistic evidence preservation raises constitutional questions. Only 42% of required forensic documentation appeared in Mahdi's autopsy report, including no analysis of his shirt's bullet holes alignment with the target. Veteran pathologists note this violates standard post-execution review processes observed in Utah and Oklahoma, the only other states using firing squads.
South Carolina's execution method selection process faces renewed scrutiny. Three recent inmates chose lethal injection despite evidence of pulmonary edema risks, while others opt for firing squads believing them more humane. This case reveals flaws in both assumptions, with Mahdi's prolonged death mirroring complications seen in 19% of lethal injection cases nationwide.
Legal experts warn the incident could reignite Eighth Amendment challenges. When states experiment with execution methods without proper oversight, they risk violating constitutional protections against cruel punishment,says UC Berkeley law professor Angela Colletti. Her 2022 study found 34% of non-lethal injection executions showed evidence of protocol deviations.
The Department of Corrections maintains its processes followed established guidelines. Spokesperson Carla Wilson stated: All executions are conducted with professionalism and respect for legal requirements.However, the agency declined to explain why Mahdi's autopsy diverged from standard forensic practices used in previous cases.
As South Carolina prepares for Stephen Stanko's scheduled June execution, criminal justice reformers demand transparency. Proposed legislation would require independent medical observers and full forensic documentation at all executions - measures currently adopted in only 7 states. With 14 firing squad executions conducted nationally since 1976, experts argue each case provides critical data for improving end-of-life procedures.
