Alabama executed a man using the controversial method of nitrogen asphyxiation on Thursday. Convicted murderer Kenneth Eugene Smith was pronounced dead on Thursday evening after breathing pure nitrogen gas through a face mask to cause oxygen deprivation. The execution took around 22 minutes. Witnesses report shaking and writhing. For at least two minutes, Smith appeared to shake on the gurney, sometimes pulling against the restraints. That was followed by several minutes of heavy breathing, witnesses said. “It appeared that Smith was holding his breath as long as he could,” Alabama Corrections Commissioner John Hamm said when asked about the shaking at a press conference. “He struggled against the restraints a little bit but it’s an involuntary movement and some agonal breathing. So that was all expected.” It was the first time a new execution method has been used in the US since the lethal injection was introduced in 1982. “Tonight Alabama causes humanity to take a step backwards. … I’m leaving with love, peace and light,” Smith said in his final message.
Alabama carried out the first nitrogen hypoxia execution on convicted killer Kenneth Smith for a 1988 murder-for-hire plot. Witnesses reported he shook violently and appeared to suffer, but Alabama’s attorney general said the execution was “textbook.”
Alabama carried out the first nitrogen hypoxia execution on convicted killer Kenneth Smith for a 1988 murder-for-hire plot. Witnesses reported he shook violently and appeared to suffer, but Alabama’s attorney general said the execution was “textbook.” pic.twitter.com/DDhurEmaMm
— CBS Evening News (@CBSEveningNews) January 27, 2024
For the first time in the U.S., nitrogen gas has been used to execute a convicted killer in Alabama. Witnesses say his body violently shook for at least two minutes – but officials called the execution “textbook.”
For the first time in the U.S., nitrogen gas has been used to execute a convicted killer in Alabama. Witnesses say his body violently shook for at least two minutes – but officials called the execution “textbook.” @SteveOsunsami reports. https://t.co/B05xeNqR1I pic.twitter.com/7ukTG76xmr
— World News Tonight (@ABCWorldNews) January 27, 2024
- What a headline. I’m pro-death penalty because I think we need to be willing to take human life in order to avoid last man status. But we don’t want to kill innocent people. Killing criminals is a perfect solution. Congrats to Alabama. Hopefully many more executions to come. – Richard Hanania
- Yesterday Alabama executed a man using Nitrogen Gas. Here is a witness describing the inhumane, evil and atrocious way the execution happened. The Death Penalty is ineffective, inhumane and costly for tax payers. See clip below
Yesterday Alabama executed a man using Nitrogen Gas.
Here is a witness describing the inhumane, evil and atrocious way the execution happened.
The Death Penalty is ineffective, inhumane and costly for tax payers.#AbolishTheDeathPenalty pic.twitter.com/o65eT2rfjs
— Mo 🍉 (@MozFrame) January 26, 2024
Minute by gruesome minute: From his last words to the final horrifying spasm on his gurney, how America’s first nitrogen gas execution saw killer Kenneth Smith thrash around while his wife wept during grisly 22-minute death in Alabama prison https://t.co/WN7bHYunNw pic.twitter.com/H1lgNZjUWQ
— Daily Mail Online (@MailOnline) January 26, 2024
- Alabama AG Steve Marshall praises the state’s commissioner and department of corrections following the first execution in the country by nitrogen gas, saying he hopes to never again have to “talk about how many decades some families had to wait before justice was served.” – MSNBC – 1 min clip at Twitter
- Alabama executed first prisoner, Kenneth Smith, using untested method of nitrogen gas, during his 22-minute-long nitrogen execution – which witness described as ‘horrific’ as he thrashed and ‘convulsed’ on gurney. Clip at Twitter
- Very proud to live in Alabama. The Word of God states that those who rule do not bear the power of the sword in vain. The public execution of criminals who commit crimes worthy of the death penalty puts the fear of God before the eyes of a citizenry, whether those citizens are born again believers or not. The reason we have rampant heinous violent crime is because states have not executed justice with the sword swiftly. Rulers have abdicated their responsibility to punish the evil doer and because of that, “there is no fear of God before their eyes” (the eyes of the citizens of our states and nation). The state should be executing more criminals like the one executed last night, not less. The appeals process should be finished in 5 years not 35 years. They should not use nitrogen hypoxia or lethal injection in a basement somewhere, they should use rope or a guillotine in a public setting. Those who are guilty of capital murder, violent rape, or those who engage in sexual activity with children should be hung in the street after they receive a jury trial of their peers and are found guilty. Forgiveness in Christ is available to all, but justice must be done on earth if we are to have a civil society. – Bryan Dawson
- NITROGEN HYPOXIA – Nitrogen, a colorless, odorless gas, makes up about 78 % of the air inhaled by humans. Under the method of nitrogen hypoxia, used in Alabama‘s execution, the person breathes only nitrogen, & suffocates for lack of oxygen. Alabama lives up to its reputation. – John P Flannery
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