Shawn Humphries apologized to his victim’s family before he was
put to death by lethal injection Friday night for the 1994 murder of
a Simpsonville store clerk.
Humphries mouthed “I’m sorry” before lethal chemicals were pumped
through his veins. Department of Corrections officials pronounced
Humphries dead at 6:18 p.m.
Humphries was convicted of murder for the shooting death of
Mendal Alton “Dickie” Smith on New Year’s Day 1994. Prosecutors said
Humphries and a friend decided to rob the store where Smith was
working after they had been drinking beer all day.
Humphries’ attorney, Teresa Norris, read a 1½-page handwritten
statement from the death chamber before the execution in which
Humphries apologized for the killing and used Bible verses to
criticize the death penalty.
Several dozen death penalty opponents marched along the road near
the entrance to the Broad River Correctional Institution, where the
execution was held.
Gov. Mark Sanford rejected Norris’ application for clemency
earlier Friday. On Thursday, the U.S. Supreme Court rejected a
request for a stay of execution.
Humphries is the third person executed in South Carolina this
year. He is the 35th inmate put to death in the state — and the
1,001st in the nation — since the death penalty was reinstated in
1976.
• Judge hears Catawbas’ video
poker case
Attorneys for the Catawbas argued in court Friday that the
Indians’ 1993 land settlement allows them to operate video poker on
their reservation, while state attorneys countered the Legislature
banned video poker statewide in 2000.
Judge Joseph Strickland promised Friday to rule on the case
before he starts vacation Dec. 19.
The Catawbas sued the state in July for the ability to operate
video poker on their reservation in York and Lancaster counties. The
tribe contends profits at its bingo hall, opened in Rock Hill in
1997, dropped by nearly half after the state began operating a
lottery in 2002.
If the judge rules in their favor, said Assistant Catawba Chief
Buck George, the Catawbas will quickly open a video poker facility
to raise funds for economic development.
• Property tax proposals to be
sent to Senate panel
Two pieces of a Senate subcommittees’ plans to reform property
taxes took a step forward Thursday.
A joint Senate subcommittee approved sending drafted
constitutional amendments to the full Senate Judiciary Committee.
One would revamp property tax reassessment, while the other would
limit local governments’ spending.
The proposals are expected to be prefiled for the upcoming
legislative session within the week.
One amendment would make so-called point-of-sale reassessment the
default system statewide. Under that method, property would be
reassessed only when sold or substantially improved.
The other drafted amendment would cap local tax rates. Increases
would be tied to the state’s personal income growth. Local
governments could get more money through a public vote.
Contributing: The Associated
Press
