Attorneys representing Stephen Stanko claimed the marksmen intentionally avoided the primary target, causing “the most extreme pain a human can experience until his death.”
Counsel involved in the Supreme Court filings described the mathematical improbability of the miss.
Joseph Perkovich stated that the trajectory indicated deliberate intent: “they missed entirely the left ventricle, and only glancingly struck the right ventricle.
For three marksmen to miss their target 15ft away is effectively impossible – so that leaves us with something very bleak, and that is the intent.”
Dr. Groner revisited the South Carolina case in an upcoming book, raising concerns regarding racial bias.
He questioned the motivations of corrections staff, writing, “Would corrections officers in a southern state intentionally torture a Black man who murdered a police officer?
The historical record suggests this is far from out of the question.”
State authorities firmly rejected the allegations of intentional malpractice. A South Carolina Department of Corrections spokesperson said, “South Carolina categorically denies this purely speculative accusation.”
Legal scholars remain divided on the resurgence of the firing squad across multiple jurisdictions. Professor Deborah Denno previously viewed the protocol as the “least inhumane readily-available method.”
She noted that human elements and emotional responses complicate implementation: “We tend to forget that human beings are conducting this, and human beings have emotions and feelings.
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Such as wanting to set things right, an eye for an eye, and revenge.”
