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Anti-Death Penalty Advocates Urge SC Gov. to Halt Execution After New Details Emerge

Grounds for Clemency

Anti-death penalty advocates are pleading with South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster to halt the scheduled execution of Richard Bernard Moore, citing newly discovered evidence that they believe warrants clemency. Moore is set to be executed on April 20 for the 1999 murder of James Mahoney. However, advocates argue that new information has come to light that casts doubt on the fairness of his trial and the reliability of the evidence against him.

Unreliable Witness Testimony

One of the key pieces of evidence against Moore was the testimony of a jailhouse informant named James Edward Grizzle. Grizzle claimed that Moore had confessed to the murder while they were both incarcerated together. However, Grizzle has since recanted his testimony, stating that he lied about Moore's confession in order to obtain a lighter sentence for himself. This revelation raises serious concerns about the credibility of the prosecution's case.

Prosecutorial Misconduct

Advocates also allege that the prosecution engaged in misconduct during Moore's trial. They claim that the prosecution withheld exculpatory evidence from the defense, including a statement from another inmate who claimed to have witnessed the murder and who implicated a different suspect. This alleged misconduct further undermines the fairness of Moore's conviction and sentence.

Intellectual Disability and Mental Illness

In addition to the concerns about the evidence and the trial, advocates also argue that Moore should be spared the death penalty due to his intellectual disability and mental illness. Moore has an IQ of 70, which is below the threshold for intellectual disability recognized by the Supreme Court. He also has a history of mental illness, including depression and bipolar disorder. These factors, advocates argue, make Moore less culpable for his crime and less deserving of the death penalty.

Call for Clemency

Given these new developments, anti-death penalty advocates are urging Governor McMaster to grant Moore clemency. They argue that the evidence against Moore is unreliable, that the prosecution engaged in misconduct, and that Moore's intellectual disability and mental illness make him less deserving of the death penalty. They believe that halting Moore's execution would be a just and compassionate act that would uphold the principles of fairness and due process.