- Alabama executes Kenneth Smith with nitrogen asphyxiation.
- Governor Ivey defends it as humane, facing rights experts’ opposition.
- Smith survived a previous botched lethal injection, sparking ethical concerns.
In a historic move, the state of Alabama executed convicted murderer Kenneth Smith through nitrogen asphyxiation, marking the first use of this method in the state. Governor Kay Ivey confirmed the execution on Thursday evening, underscoring the state’s adoption of nitrogen asphyxiation as a purportedly simpler alternative to lethal injections.
The new protocol, lauded by Alabama as “the most painless and humane method of execution known to man,” has sparked controversy and opposition from United Nations human rights experts and Smith’s legal team. Concerns have been raised about the experimental nature of nitrogen asphyxiation, its potential risks, and the possibility of a torturous or non-fatal outcome.
Kenneth Smith, convicted in 1988 for a murder-for-hire case, gained notoriety as a rare inmate who had previously survived a failed execution attempt by lethal injection. In November 2022, officials in Alabama had halted his lethal injection execution after struggling for hours to establish an intravenous line.
The execution of Smith, who had been at the center of legal battles aimed at preventing his death, brings attention to the ethical and procedural questions surrounding the use of nitrogen asphyxiation in capital punishment. Critics argue that the method’s experimental nature and potential risks raise doubts about its humaneness.
Governor Ivey, reflecting on the execution, stated, “On March 18, 1988, 45-year-old Elizabeth Sennett’s life was brutally taken from her by Kenneth Eugene Smith. After more than 30 years and attempt after attempt to game the system, Mr. Smith has answered for his horrendous crimes.”
Alabama prison officials, along with journalists who witnessed the event, are expected to provide detailed briefings later on Thursday evening. The landmark event further fuels the ongoing debate on humane execution methods and the use of untested procedures in the capital punishment process.
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