Owens is set to be executed by lethal injection in the state's first execution in 13 years. This despite a key witness who testified against Owens now proclaiming his innocence.

A South Carolina inmate scheduled to be executed Friday is asking Gov. Henry McMaster to spare his life, something no governor in the state has done since the death penalty was restarted nearly 50 years ago.

Attorneys for Owens had filed an emergency motion with South Carolina's high court to reconsider stopping his death based on an affidavit filed by Owens' co-defendant, Steven Golden, stating that Owens did not shoot Graves during the robbery at the Speedway convenience store.