Final meal of death row inmate who requested rare gruesome execution method not used for 15 years

Death row meals have long been a popular topic of conversation over here in the UK since the death penalty was abolished in 1998.

I'm not sure I could deal with the pressure of choosing exactly what I'd want for a final bite, but it would likely include some sort of roast dinner and gravy, which would, of course, need to be specifically flown over from England.

It certainly wouldn't be anything like the choice of Victor Feguer, who chose a single pitted olive in the hope that an olive tree would grow from his grave in one final act of peace.

Some inmates go for the all-you-can-eat option, such as Brian Dorsey, who opted for two cheeseburgers, chicken strips, two large orders of fries, and a loaded pizza.

At around 6pm EST on 7 March, Brad Sigmon was set to be put to death by firing squad, which is already an unusual choice, given the method hasn't been used in over 15 years.

The South Carolina man was found guilty of double murder in April 2001 after bludgeoning his ex-girlfriend Rebecca Barbare's parents, David and Gladys Larke, to death with a baseball bat in their home.

Brad Sigmon is set to be put to death by firing squad (South Carolina Department of Corrections)

Sigmon had dated Barbare for three years before their split in early 2001, with court documents stating that he had told a friend the night before that he was going to 'get Becky for leaving him the way she did' by attacking her parents.

Ahead of his scheduled execution, Sigmon was given the option of eating to his heart's desire on his final day.

His attorney, Bo King, revealed on South Carolina television station WYFF that he'd ordered three sharing buckets of Kentucky Fried Chicken to be shared with the other inmates on death row.

King added: "Brad is someone who served as an informal chaplain to the guys on death row. He's someone who models the kind of service and ministry that's the central pillar of his faith."

According to his attorney, the death row inmate had his final meal (Getty Stock Image)

The attorney said that Sigmon wasn't given enough information about the lethal injection option, telling the outlet: "He wanted to know had the drugs expired, had they been diluted, had they spoiled? And none of those facts were disclosed despite his repeated requests."

He also claimed that Sigmon was suffering from a mental illness at the time of the trial and crime and should be spared.

King said: "The death penalty is intended for the worst of the worst, and so in a case like Brad's, the evidence that he's experiencing the psychotic break, that he's not competent at the time of trial, we think that argues against the imposition of the sentence."

The South Carolina Supreme Court recently rejected the now 67-year-old's final appeal, and Sigmon's execution by firing squad went ahead on 7 March. He was pronounced dead shortly after 6pm local time.

A journalist who witnessed Sigmon's execution said: “It looked like there was a harness over him, there was a strap over his head, his ankles were shackled,” Collins described. “He had a covering over his mouth.”

Adding: “He had a target over his heart when the curtain opened.

“It’s impossible to know what to expect when you’ve never seen someone shot at close range right in front of you.

“The firing squad is certainly faster – and more violent – than lethal injection. It’s a lot more tense, too. My heart started pounding a little after Sigmon’s lawyer read his final statement. The hood was put over Sigmon’s head, and an employee opened the black pull shade that shielded where the three prison system volunteer shooters were.”