Kenneth Smith, a murder-for-hire criminal, was executed in Alabama, the first time nitrogen gas was used to asphyxiate someone. Alabama state officials dubbed their new technique of capital punishment "the most painless and humane method of execution known to man." Smith, who was convicted of a murder-for-hire in 1988, survived the state's earlier effort to execute him via lethal injection in 2022.
"Kenneth Eugene Smith violently took the life of Elizabeth Sennett, 45, on march 18, 1988. "After more than 30 years and numerous attempts to game the system, Mr. Smith has answered for his heinous crimes," governor Ivery declared before his execution.
According to state protocol, the convict will be strapped to the gurney in the execution chamber, and the authorities will place a "NIOSH-approved Type-C full data-facepiece supplied air respirator"—a type of mask commonly used in industrial settings to deliver life-saving oxygen—over the convict's data-face.
The warden will then read the execution warrant and ask the individual for any final comments before initiating "the nitrogen hypoxia system" from another chamber. The nitrogen gas will be given for at least 15 minutes, or "five minutes following a flatline indication on the EKG, whichever is longer."
Smith's lawyer had attempted to block the execution by nitrogen, claiming that the procedure was dangerous, experimental, and may result in a painful death or non-fatal injuries. Alabama, Oklahoma, and Mississippi approved the use of nitrogen gas to kill criminals in 2018, although no executions were carried out.
"Kenneth Eugene Smith violently took the life of Elizabeth Sennett, 45, on march 18, 1988. "After more than 30 years and numerous attempts to game the system, Mr. Smith has answered for his heinous crimes," governor Ivery declared before his execution.
According to state protocol, the convict will be strapped to the gurney in the execution chamber, and the authorities will place a "NIOSH-approved Type-C full data-facepiece supplied air respirator"—a type of mask commonly used in industrial settings to deliver life-saving oxygen—over the convict's data-face.
The warden will then read the execution warrant and ask the individual for any final comments before initiating "the nitrogen hypoxia system" from another chamber. The nitrogen gas will be given for at least 15 minutes, or "five minutes following a flatline indication on the EKG, whichever is longer."
Smith's lawyer had attempted to block the execution by nitrogen, claiming that the procedure was dangerous, experimental, and may result in a painful death or non-fatal injuries. Alabama, Oklahoma, and Mississippi approved the use of nitrogen gas to kill criminals in 2018, although no executions were carried out.
