Smith's execution came after he survived a botched lethal injection in 2022, which helped prompt a review of the state's death penalty procedures.
Friday 26 January 2024 03:14 UK
An Alabama prisoner has become the first prisoner in the world to be executed with nitrogen gas.
Convicted murderer Kenneth Smith was sentenced to death after the U.S. Supreme Court denied his legal request to stay his execution.
His official time of death was recorded as 8:25 pm local time on Thursday (2:25 am Friday, GMT).
The execution took about 22 minutes, according to official witnesses, and Smith appeared to remain conscious for several minutes. For at least two minutes, he appeared to be shaking and struggling on his gurney, sometimes pulling at his restraints.
This was followed by several minutes of heavy breathing, until breathing became imperceptible.
“Tonight, Alabama is causing humanity to move backwards…I leave here with love, peace and light,” Smith said in his final statement.
He made an “I love you” sign with his hand toward the family members who were witnesses. “Thank you for supporting me. Love you all,” Smith said.
Humane death or lethal experiment?Alabama's controversial nitrogen execution system
“On March 18, 1988, 45-year-old Elizabeth Sennett's life was brutally taken by Kenneth Eugene Smith,” Alabama Governor Kay Ivey said in a statement.
“After more than 30 years of repeated attempts to game the system, Mr. Smith has answered for his horrific crimes.
“The death penalty was legally carried out through nitrogen hypoxia, a method Mr. Smith had previously requested as an alternative to lethal injection.
“Mr. Smith finally got what he wanted and this case can finally be closed.
“We pray that Elizabeth Sennett's family can find closure after many years of dealing with their great loss.”
“Alabama has accomplished something historic. Like most states, Alabama believes that some crimes are so horrific that the ultimate punishment is warranted,” said Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall. I have made the decision.”
“But anti-death penalty activists have sought to override that moral judgment through pressure campaigns against those who support the state in the process.
“They don't care that Alabama's new method is humane and effective because they know it's easy to do.”
The use of nitrogen gas as an execution method was highly controversial and had never been used before in the world.
This includes securing the mask securely to your face and covering your mouth and nose. The mask is then supplied with nitrogen gas. A person continues to breathe normally, but when oxygen is depleted, the body gradually stops functioning and eventually dies. In effect, you will suffocate.
Smith's execution came after he survived a botched lethal injection in 2022, which helped prompt a review of the state's death penalty procedures.
Supreme Court justices argue that Alabama's second execution attempt (after severely traumatizing initial failure) violates Eighth Amendment protections against cruel and unusual punishment refused to support Mr. Smith's legal challenge.
However, the ruling was not unanimous, with three judges voting in favor of halting the execution.
“After failing to kill Smith on the first attempt, the state of Alabama selected him as a 'guinea pig' to test the killing method.”
“Enforcement has never been attempted before,” Justice Sonia Sotomayor wrote, saying she would have granted the injunction.
“The world is watching.”
Just minutes before the execution, the Supreme Court twice refused to intervene to prevent the execution.