Kenneth Eugene Smith, 58, was on death row for more than three decades
In the southern US state of Alabama, a convicted murderer was executed using nitrogen gas on Thursday. It is the first time that the controversial method – which has been criticized by human rights advocates – has been used in the country.
Kenneth Eugene Smith was executed by a method called nitrogen hypoxia, which involves pumping nitrogen gas into a facemask, suffocating the person.
guilty of a murder
Smith, 58, had been on death row for more than three decades after being convicted of murdering a pastor’s wife in 1988.
Smith and his associate, John Parker, were convicted of the murder of Elizabeth Sennett in 1988, for which they were paid $1,000 each. Parker was executed by lethal injection in 2010.
Charles Sennett, who hired Smith and Parker to murder his wife, killed himself a week after her death.
Smith faced a failed execution attempt in 2022, when prison officials were unable to set up intravenous lines to administer the fatal injection. In an interview with National Public Radio last December, Smith said he was “absolutely terrified” about his upcoming execution and was still “traumatized” by the previous failed attempt.
How was he hanged?
A respirator mask was placed over his face to pump pure nitrogen instead of oxygen into his lungs. The process lasted for about 22 minutes, before he died of suffocation.
Media witnesses said, “He began writhing and writhing for about two to four minutes, followed by heavy breathing for about five minutes.”
Alabama Department of Corrections Commissioner John Hamm told reporters that it appeared Smith was “holding his breath as long as possible” and was making “involuntary movements” and gasping, which was “expected.”
Smith had a final meal of steak, hash browns and eggs Thursday morning.
his last words
His wife and other relatives were present at his execution when he turned to them, saying “I love you.” Five journalists were allowed to watch the execution through glass as media witnesses.
Smith’s last words were, “Tonight, Alabama forced humanity to take a step back,” according to CBS, whose reporter witnessed the execution.