Alabama Carries Out Controversial Execution Using Nitrogen Hypoxia
In a landmark event, Alabama became the first state in the United States to execute someone using nitrogen hypoxia as a method of capital punishment. Kenneth Eugene Smith, the convicted murderer, was put to death at the William C. Holman Correctional Facility in Atmore.
The execution, which began at 7:53 p.m., involved placing a nitrogen mask on Smith’s face for five minutes after his heart flatlined. Smith’s last words, expressing disappointment with the state of Alabama and gratitude towards his supporters, were a poignant reminder of the gravity of the moment.
Reports from witnesses indicated that Smith appeared to shake and writhe at the beginning of the execution, igniting further debates about the use of nitrogen hypoxia. The Alabama Department of Corrections Commissioner attributed the delay in carrying out the execution to an issue with the EKG reading.
Critics of Smith’s execution have pointed to a repealed Alabama statute and ongoing efforts for legislative change. His legal team argued that the use of nitrogen hypoxia violated constitutional rights and called for a more humane approach. However, their pleas were ultimately unsuccessful, as Alabama Governor Kay Ivey denied clemency.
The son of the victim expressed mixed feelings, acknowledging that justice had been served but also grappling with the emotional toll of the execution. Meanwhile, Smith’s spiritual adviser described the execution as a “moral apocalypse,” raising questions about the morality of the death penalty.
This was not the first instance of Smith facing capital punishment. In November 2022, he survived a botched lethal injection, leading to renewed debates about the efficacy and ethics of execution methods.
Before his execution, Smith had the opportunity to receive visitors and enjoy a final meal. However, the use of nitrogen hypoxia has drawn intense criticism for being experimental and potentially painful.
International concerns about this method have also been raised, with UN experts and the European Union calling for a moratorium on the death penalty. The international community has joined the chorus of voices urging Alabama to reconsider its approach to capital punishment.
Smith was convicted of the 1989 murder of a preacher’s wife in a murder-for-hire plot. Prosecutors alleged that Smith and an accomplice were paid to carry out the gruesome crime. Although Smith’s conviction was initially overturned, he was reconvicted in a second trial, leading to his ultimate execution.
In the wake of this controversial event, Alabama has since repealed the law that allowed judges to override jury recommendations in capital punishment cases, signaling a potential shift in the state’s approach to the death penalty.
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