WIS News 10 - Columbia, South Carolina | Corrections Department: Reed executed

Corrections Department: Reed executed

COLUMBIA, SC (WIS) - The Corrections Department announced that James Earl Reed was executed at 11:27pm Friday.

The execution comes after the South Carolina 4th Circuit Court of Appeals granted the Corrections Department permission to proceed with the execution.

Just minutes before his previously scheduled 6pm execution, Reed was granted a stay of execution by US District Court Judge Henry Floyd.

According to the order from the US District Court, Attorney Diana Holt wrote that the execution violated Reed's right to have an attorney at trial, his right to be free of cruel and unusual punishment and his right to due process.

Reed was the first inmate executed by the electric chair since 2004.

Reed had been on death row since 1996, when he was convicted for murdering Joseph and Barbara Lafayette, his ex-girlfriend's parents.

Protestors lined up outside the Broad River Correctional Facility to let people know how they felt about the execution.

"I would feel guilty of participating in it if I didn't make my voice known that I don't want anyone killed in my name," Protestor Anna Shockley said. "I think killing is always wrong."

Three members of the media along with Marsha Aleem, the youngest daughter of the victims, made statements confirming Reed's execution.

Previous Stories:

• Execution set for man who killed ex-girlfriend's parents
• Attorney: Condemned man sealed his fate at trial

Reported by Brandi Cummings

Posted by Jeremy Turnage