| McWee put to death Killer apologizes to victim's family COLUMBIA - Asking forgiveness for his crimes in his final moments, Augustan Jerry Bridwell McWee was executed by lethal injection Friday for the 1991 shooting death of an Aiken convenience store clerk. In a final statement read by his lawyer, Mr. McWee apologized to the family of John R. Perry and acknowledged the pain he had caused them. "I know that there will never be complete closure for you, but with my execution, I only hope that a small part of the pain will be eased," he wrote, according to a copy of the statement distributed afterward by South Carolina Department of Corrections officials. Members of the Perry family were not among the seven witnesses, but Mr. Perry's widow, Karen, released a written statement describing the loss of her husband and how it had affected their three children. She also thanked members of the Aiken community and law enforcement for their compassion and dedication. "God has given us free will; we are each responsible for our own actions," the statement read. "Please make choices that you can live with." Mrs. Perry concluded her statement by writing, "Please pray for the soul of Jerry B. McWee." Mr. McWee, 51, was the first person convicted in Aiken County to be executed in more than 40 years. A former paramedic and construction worker, he served briefly as an Augusta police officer in the mid-1970s. Mr. McWee and an accomplice, George Wade Scott, robbed the Highway 19 Corner Shop on July 6, 1991. Mr. McWee led Mr. Perry into a back room, forced him to his knees and shot him twice in the head. A week later, Mr. McWee and Mr. Scott killed roofing contractor David Willis at his Aiken County trailer during a robbery. An Aiken County jury recommended the death sentence for Mr. McWee in 1994. Mr. Scott pleaded guilty to his role in the slayings and is serving a life sentence. The sole witness for the victim at Mr. McWee's execution was Clifford Willis, who is believed to be a relative of David Willis, Department of Corrections spokesman John Barkley said. Mr. McWee's mother and father, both of Augusta, also were witnesses. Before the execution, Mr. McWee was served a final meal of steak, jumbo fried shrimp, broccoli with cheese, french fries, lemon meringue pie and iced tea. In front of the South Carolina Department of Corrections headquarters, about 50 death penalty protesters joined hands and prayed silently as the 6 p.m. execution time drew near. A corrections official announced the time of death as 6:18 p.m. "I only wished things could have been different," Mr. McWee said in his final statement. "I would give anything if only that could have been the case." FINAL STATEMENT OF JERRY BRIDWELL MCWEE Statement from Karen Perry and Family
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