Richard Moore’s last statement was revealed just after he was executed by injection on Friday in South Carolina for the fatal shooting of a convenience store clerk in 1999.
After his lawyers’ appeal to Republican Governor Henry McMaster for clemency failed, his final statement was read post-execution: “To the family of Mr James Mahoney, I am deeply sorry for the pain and sorrow I have caused you all,” the statement, read by his lawyer, began.
“To my children and granddaughters, I love you, and I am so proud of you. Thank you for the joy you have brought to my life. To my family and friends, new and old, thank you for your love and support.”
Despite his appeals claiming an unfair trial, his lawyers were unsuccessful in getting clemency and Governor Henry McMaster rejected his plea for life imprisonment.
South Carolina sets execution date for man who murdered store clerk as state ramps up executions after 13-year pause
Notably, no governor in South Carolina has granted clemency in the past 44 executions since the reinstatement of the death penalty in 1976. Despite the fact that governors in 24 other states have granted clemency, no governor in South Carolina has ever done so.
This will be the second execution since the death penalty was reinstated in South Carolina, leaving 30 people on death row after Moore’s death.
His daughter described him as a ‘great man’ and a good man who ‘loves god,’ and paints scenes of Jesus from his jail cell.
Three jurors from Moore’s 2001 trial have written letters urging McMaster to commute his sentence to life without parole. They are joined by a former state prison director, Moore’s trial judge, his son and daughter, several childhood friends, and various pastors.
All argued that Moore, now 59, became a transformed man who loves God, cherishes his new grandchildren as best he can, assists guards in maintaining order, and mentors fellow inmates.
His drug addiction, they say, clouded his judgment, leading to the shootout where James Mahoney lost his life, according to the clemency petition.
Moore’s current legal representatives have criticized his original defense team for their lack of thorough investigation at the crime scene and failure to challenge the prosecution’s assertion that Moore, initially unarmed, intended to rob the store by shooting a customer. The story goes that a disagreement over 12 cents escalated into a violent altercation between Moore and the store clerk.
Moore alleges that he wrestled a gun from Mahoney’s hand after the latter threatened him with it, only for the clerk to pull out a second firearm. During the ensuing struggle, Moore was shot in the arm but managed to retaliate, striking Mahoney in the chest.
He then went behind the counter and stole approximately $1,400. Moore’s lawyers argue that his case stands out on South Carolinas death row because he started his crime unarmed and without the intention to kill.
His execution date was postponed twice as the state navigated through issues causing a 13-year hiatus in the death penalty, including companies refusing to sell lethal injection drugs to the state, an obstacle overcome by passing a secrecy law.
Despite being incarcerated, Moore has maintained an active role in his children’s lives, engaging with them about school and imparting wisdom through letters. Now a grandfather, he stays connected with his grandchildren through video calls.
The profound effect of his presence, even from a distance, is evident in the numerous letters emphasizing the void that would be left if Moore were no longer there. “Even though my father has been away, that still has not stopped him from making a big impact on my life, a positive impact,” his daughter Alexandria Moore stated, crediting her father’s influence for her decision to join the Air Force.
She recounted how her young daughter eagerly asks, “Is that Pa Pa? ” whenever the phone rings at their home in Spain. “He is a great man, and I want her to know her grandfather as the man that he is,” she shared, expressing her wish for her daughter to know her grandfather.
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