Freddie Owens Execution Halted After Key Witness Recants Testimony

New Evidence Raises Doubts About Owens' Guilt

Friend who testified against Owens now says he lied under pressure from police

Just hours before Freddie Owens was scheduled to be executed, a key witness in his case has come forward to say that he lied about Owens' involvement in the crime. The witness, who was 16 years old at the time of the murder, says that he was pressured by police to testify against Owens and that he now believes Owens is innocent. The new evidence has led the state to halt Owens' execution and to order a new hearing. Owens' attorneys say that the new evidence proves that Owens is innocent and that he should be released from prison. The case against Owens has always been based on circumstantial evidence. There were no eyewitnesses to the murder, and the only evidence linking Owens to the crime was the testimony of the witness who has now recanted his testimony. In a sworn affidavit, the witness says that he lied about Owens' involvement in the crime because he was afraid of being charged with the murder himself. He says that police told him that if he testified against Owens, he would not be charged. The witness's recantation has raised serious doubts about Owens' guilt. The state has agreed to halt Owens' execution and to order a new hearing. Owens' attorneys say that they are confident that Owens will be exonerated at the new hearing. Here is a summary of the key points of the story: * Freddie Owens was scheduled to be executed for murder. * A key witness in the case has recanted his testimony. * The witness says that he lied about Owens' involvement in the crime because he was pressured by police. * The new evidence has led the state to halt Owens' execution and to order a new hearing. * Owens' attorneys say that they are confident that Owens will be exonerated at the new hearing.