A death row inmate in Missouri who has long claimed his innocence and is scheduled to be executed in less than one week asked the US Supreme Court on Wednesday for a stay of execution, arguing his due process rights were denied during the yearslong legal battle to save his life.

At times, Freddie Eugene Owens' letters are incredibly vulnerable as he says he's "also human." At others they threaten violence and say "betrayers will be slayed"

South Carolina has executed its first death row inmate in 13 years, administering a lethal injection to Freddie Owens. Owens, 46, was found guilty by a jury of killing shop worker Irene Graves during an armed robbery in Greenville in 1997.

A death sentence for a South Carolina inmate was carried out on Friday following a 13-year pause on executions in the state, officials said.

South Carolina executed Freddie Eugene Owens by lethal injections as questions over his guilt arose over the last couple of days.

South Carolina put inmate Freddie Owens to death Friday as the state restarted executions after an unintended 13-year pause.