(Columbia) April 16, 2004 - An Aiken County man convicted of killing a convenience store clerk in July 1991 has been put to death by the State of South Carolina.

Prison officials say 51-year-old Jerry McWee died by lethal injection at 6:18pm Friday. McWee's mother sobbed after her son was put to death.

McWee blew a kiss at his mom, and she blew one back. A tear formed in his eyes as his final words asking for forgiveness were read. The second tear rolled down his face moments after he stopped breathing.

Governor Mark Sanford denied Jerry Bridwell McWee's clemency petition Thursday afternoon.
The governor says he respects the courts and will not overturn a case that was appealed several times. No South Carolina governor has reduced a death sentence to life in prison since the death penalty was reinstated nearly 30 years ago.

Defense lawyers said the clemency petition was McWee's last hope for avoiding the death chamber. The former Augusta, Georgia, police officer was the 30th inmate sent to the death chamber since capitol punishment was reinstated in the Palmetto State in 1976.

The US Supreme Court on Wednesday refused to stop McWee's execution, denying his application for stay and petition for writ of certiorari. McWee had asked the court to delay the execution because he thinks the jury in his 1994 trial should have known he would have been 71 years old before he became eligible for parole.

The South Carolina Supreme Court denied a similar appeal from McWee last month on a 3-2 vote.

Lawyers for McWee also said his death sentence should be commuted to life without parole because they say his co-defendant struck a plea bargain that may have kept him from the death chamber.

McWee was sentenced to death ten years ago for killing John Perry on July 6, 1991. Prosecutors said Perry was working alone at the 19 Corner Store in Aiken County when McWee's accomplice, George Wade Scott, stopped to use an air hose.

As Scott returned the hose, they say, McWee entered the store with a .38-caliber revolver. Authorities say McWee took Perry to the back of the store and shot him twice in the back of the head before stealing $350.

The two men were convicted of later killing another man, Aiken roofing contractor David Willis. Both men eventually pleaded guilty in that case. Scott pleaded guilty and testified against McWee in the Perry case and was sentenced to life in prison.

McWee's lawyer says his client has told him he feels remorse for killing Perry and hopes his execution can bring the victim's family some peace.

The next execution comes in just a week on April 23rd, when Jason Byram is scheduled to die by lethal injection for the stabbing of a teacher in her downtown Columbia home.

Updated 8:50pm by Eva Pilgrim