Augusta Georgia: metro@ugusta: Executions different in states 9/20/97

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Executions different in states

Web posted September 21, 1997

Innocent on death row
Appeals leave victims' families in limbo
Waiting on Death Row
Appeals process lacking resources
Profiles of inmates on Georgia's death row

By Sandy Hodson
Staff Writer

Aiken County juries sent four of the 67 people to death row in South Carolina.

In South Carolina, death row inmates can choose between electrocution and lethal injection. In Georgia, the only method of execution is the electric chair.

As in Georgia, South Carolina death row inmates are not allowed to talk to media representatives, although at least one reporter is allowed to witness an execution in either state.

The last execution in South Carolina took place June 14 when Michael E. Elkins, 41, was put to death. He is one of 12 people executed in South Carolina since the death penalty was reimposed there in 1985.

Aiken County death row inmates are:

Jerry McWee, a former Augusta police officer who was sentenced to death in January 1994 for the robbery and murder of John Perry. Mr. Perry was killed in a convenience store robbery in July 1991.

Donnie Council, who was sentenced to die last October for the murder of 72-year-old Elizabeth Gatti. She was sexually assaulted, beaten, forced to drink a mixture of household cleaners and finally smothered to death by the duct tape wrapped around her head Oct. 9, 1992.

Willie Hicks, who was sentenced to die in May 1996 for the robbery and murder of 73-year-old Andrew Hagan, who suffered 34 stab wounds and a beating on Dec. 29, 1993, in his own home.

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