• Mikal Mahdi suffered extreme pain for up to a minute after a botched firing squad execution.
• Only two bullets struck Mahdi, missing the heart and causing severe internal injuries.
• Witnesses reported Mahdi expressing pain during the execution, contradicting state execution protocol expectations.
• Lawyers are challenging the execution, citing inadequate autopsy procedures and documentation.
• South Carolina's method of execution is under scrutiny following this incident, with ongoing legal ramifications.

Mikal Mahdi, executed by firing squad on April 11 in South Carolina, may have suffered for an extended duration due to bullets missing their intended heart target. According to a pathologist hired by Mahdi's lawyers, the autopsy revealed that he was conscious and likely in extreme pain for 30 to 60 seconds post-execution, a stark contrast to the expected 15 seconds for a proper firing squad execution. The execution resulted in only two distinct wounds rather than the three expected, raising serious concerns about the execution's execution methodology, according to CBS News, India Times, and South China Morning Post.

During the execution, it was reported that Mahdi cried out when shot and continued to groan, indicating he was still alive and struggling for oxygen due to damage to his lungs, as per accounts from witnesses. This experience is sharply at odds with South Carolina's law, which mandates executions that should not prolong suffering. The pathologist, Dr. Jonathan Arden, mentioned that Mahdi’s body showed signs that indicated a prolonged death process due to missed shots, suggesting "air hunger" as his lungs failed to function properly. These findings challenge the state’s assertion that executions conducted via firing squad are quick and humane, as highlighted in reports from NPR and India Times.

Concerns about the execution process are compounded by inadequate autopsy documentation and practices. Mahdi's legal team criticized the execution's oversight, pointing to failures such as the lack of X-rays and insufficient examination of the wounds and clothing, which ultimately hindered a comprehensive analysis of the incident. As reported, only one photograph was taken of Mahdi's body, leaving many questions unanswered. The discrepancies between Mahdi's execution and previous ones, notably that of Brad Sigmon, whose execution was documented with proper autopsy protocols, have raised ethical questions about capital punishment practices in South Carolina, noted in articles from South China Morning Post and NPR.

As the legal implications of Mahdi's execution unfold, the discourse on the ethical standards of capital punishment in South Carolina grows increasingly complex. With 26 inmates remaining on death row and recent shifts in method choices by inmates, the discussion surrounding the credibility of lethal injection as a humane execution method remains contentious. The fallout from Mahdi’s case could lead to significant changes in how executions are carried out, as underscored by the scrutiny it has received across multiple media outlets, including CBS News and India Times.