Clifton Joe Campbell has served 24 years in prison

rseaborn@pickenssentinel.com

COLUMBIA - Clifton Joe Campbell, formerly of Pickens, and who was convicted in the September 13, 1983 murder of Henry Patten "Pat" Swayngham, was denied parole last week following his eighth hearing in as many years

Campbell faced the full, seven-member panel of the state's Department of Probation, Parole and Pardon Board Wednesday morning after serving 24 years of a life sentence.

Family and friends of Swayngham filled the hearing room, asking that the parole board once again turn down Campbell's request for parole.

Tom, Swayngham's son, who was 22 years old at the time of his father's murder, addressed the board and asked that Campbell remain in prison.

Swayngham's wife of 24 years at the time of his death, sat between her son and son-in-law, Charles Monroe, facing the board.

Campbell, who turned 76 years old in January, was found guilty March 17, 1984 by a 12-member Pickens County jury panel of dousing Swayngham with gasoline twice and then twice setting him on fire.

According to court documents, Campbell approached Swayngham at his Turner Road shop where the victim was working with wielding equipment. Campbell poured gasoline on Swayngham and lit him on fire, but Swayngham was able to extinguish those first flames by rolling on the ground and in a small puddle.

For a second time, Campbell doused Swayngham with gas and again set him on fire, this time causing extensive burns on most of the victim's body.

Swayngham survived the initial assaults and was transported to the Augusta Burn Center, in Georgia, where he identified Campbell as his attacker, court documents said.

He died several weeks later from those injuries suffered in that attack, court papers said.

Although state prosecutors sought the death penalty against Campbell, a jury handed down a life sentence.

Bess Swayngham said earlier that several members of the jury told her that they decide upon a life sentence instead of death because they believe Campbell intended to only kill Swayngham, not torture him.

"I was there at the hospital with Pat," Mrs. Swayngham said. "It was torture on him. Pat was tortured."

Victim Witness Coordinator Sherry Holcombe, with the Pickens County Sheriff's Office,

also attended the hearing on behalf of Sheriff David Stone and his agency.

"I want to express again that (Campbell) threw gas on the victim twice and lit him on fire twice," she said. "The Sheriff's Office request that you deny parole."

Thirteen members of Swayngham's family and friends made the trip to Columbia to request that Campbell be denied parole.

According to Sandra McCray, a victim service provider with the Department of Probation, Parole, and Pardon Services, because Campbell was tried and sentenced during the early 1980s, laws at that time dictate that he becomes eligible for a parole hearing annually.