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BARNWELL - An emotion-filled day ended Thursday with a Williston man beginning the rest of his life in prison for the 2007 murder of a Springfield minister.
"I have never, ever seen a more senseless killing than this. It was heartless, it was cowardly, it was inhumane, void of any human dignity, emotion," said Circuit Court Judge Jack Early. "You showed this man absolutely no mercy whatsoever."
After a four-day trial, William Allen Owens remained without emotion as he faced Early. A jury spent about an hour deciding the Williston man was guilty of the July 6, 2007 execution-style shooting of the Rev. Phillip McCreary Sr.
Early handed down his sentence around 1:20 p.m. Thursday.
"You stepped up behind him, at close range, and blew his life away for no apparent reason whatsoever. You didn't even steal the money out of his pocket. I can't think of anything else, other than pure meanness, that would make you kill this man," Early said. "There's only one sentence which is appropriate here, a sentence where you will never, ever walk this earth as a free man.
"The sentence of this court on the murder charge is that you be committed to the state Department of Corrections for the balance of your entire life."
On a lesser charge of possession of a weapon during the commission of a violent crime, Early sentenced Owens to five years, "which runs after you do your life sentence."
Early then ordered Owens removed from the courtroom, stating sharply, "Get him out of here."
There will be no chance for parole for Owens.
It was an emotional day for many Thursday, including several jurors who dabbed away tears as McCreary's widow, Annie McCreary, pleaded with Early for the maximum sentence possible.
"He was there for me and took care of me and I'll never know that love again. I see this defendant wink at his family and I can't do that. I miss my husband," McCreary said, fighting back sobs. "My man, my baby, my baby. ... I can't believe it. I need my husband."
At one point, McCreary broke down and could continue no longer. She was embraced by Second Circuit Solicitor Barbara Morgan, who described the year of investigation leading to Thursday's conclusion as "a long journey."
"I want to commend the hard work of law enforcement and the courage of the witnesses," Morgan said.
On July 6, 2007, authorities were sent to the landing where S.C. Highway 39 crosses the Edisto River on the Barnwell and Orangeburg County line near Springfield. It was there they found the body of the 51-year-old McCreary, who suffered a single gunshot wound to the head.
The 32-year-old Owens was arrested in Barnwell 10 days after the minister's death while his girlfriend, Renee McKiney, was arrested in Maryland a day earlier.
McKiney's charge of murder was later dropped to accessory after the fact of murder. Investigators say she was at home at the time of the shooting.
Investigators did not recover the firearm used to kill McCreary nor was any DNA evidence recovered after a search warrant was executed at Owens' home.
The 33-year-old McKiney, however, was a key witness in the state's case against Owens. McKiney testified that the day after McCreary was killed, she heard Owens brag that he "blew a black man's head off and threw him in the river."
Susan Lucado, Owens' cousin, told the court she heard Owens state he killed someone by the river. The Williston woman said she didn't believe Owens initially. She went to police after she saw a newspaper article on the shooting.
"Rev. McCreary is telling you, look at me, look at me, let me tell you how I died," Morgan said in her closing statement. "I dare say he was executed. That defendant executed Rev. McCreary. He was on his knees, and I say he was praying."
A ballistics expert on Wednesday testified that McCreary was shot at the base of the skull from a distance of no more than six inches, the projectile exiting his left eye socket.
Appointed by the court, defense attorney Tim Moore said the case was difficult since he was familiar with the minister's church and many of its members.
"It's tough, it's very tough," Moore said. "But as a lawyer, it's my job to give the best defense for my client. I'm going to do the best I can for them."
Moore argued that conflicting times given by the state's witnesses proved his client couldn't have been at the river on the night in question.
"When does Mr. (Troy) Jamison hear that gunshot? Somewhere around dusk-dark, between 8:30 and 8:45 p.m.," Moore said in his closing argument. "And where is William Owens? He's home with Renee."
In spite of having no direct eyewitness, the state, through McKiney, did present testimony that Owens hid several firearms after the shooting.
The physical evidence in the state's case consisted of a pink make-up bag containing what was identified by Annie McCreary as jewelry belonging to her husband. The make-up case was recovered from a bag of clothing taken from Owens' home.
But the solicitor pointed out a key piece of evidence was given to McCreary by a fellow fisherman at the boat landing and later found at Owens' home.
"Catawba worms came to the rescue," Morgan said in closing. "If Mr. (Robert) Williams hadn't mentioned Catawba worms, we might not be here today."
T&D Staff Writer Richard Walker can be reached by e-mail at rwalker@timesanddemocrat.com or by telephone at 803-533-5516.