by Sharelle Burt
January 26, 2024
The use of nitrogen gas has sparked a debate about the death penalty.
The country used nitrogen gas to execute a convicted murderer for the first time, according to the Associated Press.
Kenneth Eugene Smith, 58, was executed Jan. 25 at an Alabama state prison by inhaling pure nitrogen through a face mask to deprive him of oxygen. This was the first time the new method had been used in the United States since lethal injection was introduced in 1982.
Its use has reignited the debate over the death penalty. The state considers the method humane, others describe it as cruel and experimental. Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey described his execution as justice for the 1988 contract killing of 45-year-old Elizabeth Sennett.
“After more than 30 years and attempt after attempt to game the system, Mr. Smith has been held accountable for his terrible crimes,” Ivey said. “I pray that Elizabeth Sennett’s family can experience separation after all the years they have struggled with this great loss.”
Court documents from the Alabama Attorney General's Office state: “Elizabeth greeted Smith and his accomplices at her home and they brutally beat her, stabbing the defenseless woman eight times in the chest and once on each side of the neck.”
More states have found new ways to carry out prison executions as lethal injection drugs have become difficult to find. Only three states – Alabama, Mississippi and Oklahoma – have approved the use of nitrogen hypoxia as a method, but none have yet used the untested method.
The nitrogen gas execution was completed in approximately 22 minutes between opening and closing the viewing room curtains. Smith appeared to be conscious for a while, but for nearly two minutes the prisoner appeared to be shaking and often pulled at the shackles. Between the opening and closing of the curtains to the auditorium there were long minutes of heavy breathing until the breathing could no longer be seen.
Smith's final words were, “Tonight, Alabama causes humanity to take a step back… I leave with love, peace and light.” He then waved his hands in the “I love you” sign to family members in attendance. “Thank you for the support. Love, love you all,” he said.
According to AL, Smith spoke with his spiritual advisor, Rev. Jeff Hood, after the supervisor took away the microphone and left the room. Hood touched Smith's feet with his Bible and continued to pray for him throughout the execution.
This was not the state's first attempt to kill Smith. His execution was originally scheduled for November 17, 2022, but the attempt fell through because workers were unable to open a line for lethal injection before the state's execution order expired at midnight.
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