South Carolina is set on Friday to execute Freddie Owens, who would become the first death row inmate to die at the hands of the state in 13 years, for killing a convenience store clerk during a 1997 robbery.

South Carolina has executed Greenville County killer Freddie Owens, the first inmate to be put to death by the state in 13 years.Owens, 46, died by lethal injection on Friday, September 20 - nearly three decades after the murder of convenience store clerk Irene Graves.

South Carolina executed Freddie Eugene Owens by lethal injections as questions over his guilt arose over the last couple of days.

South Carolina executes first inmate in 13 yearsFreddie OwensFreddie Owens, 46, was executed via lethal injection on Friday, September 20. He was the first death row inmate executed in South Carolina in more than 13 years.

South Carolina put inmate Freddie Owens to death Friday as the state restarted executions after an unintended 13-year pause.

A key witness who helped put Freddie Owens on death row now says he lied to save his own life — coming forward just days before Owens’ execution, which is still set for Friday. Steven Golden — Owens’ one-time friend and co-defendant — filed a sworn statement Wednesday saying he lied during his testimony and that Owens wasn’t with him at a South Carolina convenience store in 1997 when Irene Graves was killed in a botched robbery.