Execution by Nitrogen Gas : Alabama Case

Kenneth Smith, aged 58 and originally set for a lethal injection in November 2022, made history as the first person in the United States to be executed by nitrogen gas. Convicted for his role in a 1988 murder-for-hire plot, Smith's execution faced delays when officials struggled to find a suitable vein. On Thursday evening, the alternative method of nitrogen hypoxia was employed, fulfilling Smith's earlier request. Governor Kay Ivey emphasized the lawful execution, expressing closure for a case that spanned several years and offering prayers for the victim's family.

Despite Smith's legal team's arguments against nitrogen gas execution on constitutional grounds, the Supreme Court denied last-minute appeals. The court rejected claims of potential cruel and unusual punishment, with Smith's attorneys citing posttraumatic stress from a previous botched execution attempt.

Notably, Alabama, one of three states permitting nitrogen gas, executed Smith using this method, marking the first instance of its implementation. The process involves strapping the inmate to a gurney, fitting a mask and breathing tube, and administering 100% pure nitrogen to induce oxygen deprivation until death occurs.

Opposition to the nitrogen gas method came from various quarters, including the U.N. Human Rights Office and the Vatican-affiliated Catholic charity Sant'Egidio Community,

deeming it "barbaric." Despite these concerns, Governor Ivey affirmed confidence in the readiness of the method, stating that the legislature had approved it in 2018, and it was the state's responsibility to implement it. The execution, surrounded by legal and ethical debates, reflects the complex landscape of capital punishment in the United States.

Refrence: abc news