Alabama Death Row Inmate Set to Become First in the US Executed with Nitrogen Gas

An Alabama death row inmate is facing execution using nitrogen gas, a method never before used in the United States. Kenneth Eugene Smith, convicted in 1989 for the murder of Elizabeth Sennett, has lost last-minute appeals to block his execution. Both the US Supreme Court and a lower appeals court declined to intervene, stating that the method, while untested, is not considered cruel and unusual punishment.

Concerns have been raised by opponents of the nitrogen gas method, who argue that it could potentially cause unnecessary suffering and pose a risk to those present in the execution room if there is a leak. However, Alabama’s Department of Corrections has stated that Smith is expected to lose consciousness within seconds and die in a matter of minutes.

The use of nitrogen gas as an execution method has been approved by Alabama and two other US states as an alternative due to difficulties in obtaining lethal injection drugs. The lack of availability of these drugs has led to a decline in the number of executions nationally.

Smith’s legal team has argued that the use of nitrogen gas is a recently released and untested method, potentially putting him at risk of choking on his own vomit. Medical professionals have also expressed concerns, warning of potential catastrophic mishaps or survival in a vegetative state.

The state of Alabama attempted to execute Smith through lethal injection two years ago but was unsuccessful in finding a vein before the death warrant expired. Now, Smith is set to become the first person in the world to be executed using nitrogen gas.

Alabama has one of the highest per capita execution rates in the US, and there are currently 165 people on death row in the state. However, recent botched attempts at lethal injection have raised serious concerns and sparked an internal review.

Smith’s spiritual adviser, Reverend Jeff Hood, expressed his worries over the safety of the nitrogen gas method, noting that he observed unplugged oxygen-level meters during a visit to the execution chamber. He has requested Alabama Governor Kay Ivey’s presence during the execution to demonstrate confidence in its safety.