According to the United Nations, utilizing nitrogen in an execution in Alabama may constitute as torture.
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Kenneth Eugene Smith, a death row inmate in Alabama, has been put to death using nitrogen gas, marking the first time in US history that this controversial method has been used for execution.
At 8:25pm CT on Thursday, 58-year-old Smith was declared deceased at the William C Holman Correctional Facility in Atmore, Alabama. This came nearly 30 years after he was found guilty for his involvement in the 1988 murder-for-hire scheme targeting Elizabeth Sennett.
The execution was witnessed by Reverend Jeff Hood, a religious adviser, who explained to reporters that the man appeared to be “fighting for their life” for a lengthy 22 minutes.
The White House expressed strong disapproval of the execution that took place on Friday. Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre stated that it deeply concerns the administration and the White House.
The officials in Alabama maintain that the execution went according to plan, despite their prediction that the untested approach would result in loss of consciousness within seconds and death within minutes.
However, according to witnesses, Smith seemed to be alert for a few moments, trembling and twisting on the stretcher.
Rev Hood stated that they did not witness someone becoming unconscious in 30 seconds. Instead, they observed several minutes of the individual fighting for their life.
Unfortunately, Smith passed away following the US Supreme Court’s rejection of a last-minute attempt to halt the execution. Justice Sonia Sotomayor expressed her disagreement with the decision and stated that the state had chosen to experiment with an unproven method on Smith.
During a press briefing on Friday, Steve Marshall, the Attorney General of Alabama, announced that an additional 43 individuals on death row have opted for execution by nitrogen hypoxia. Those who are imprisoned on death row have the option to select their preferred method of execution, which includes electrocution, lethal injection, or nitrogen hypoxia.
AG Marshall stated that the events of last night were a perfect example. He also mentioned that nitrogen hypoxia has now been tested and proven as an effective method of execution.
The governor of Alabama is praying that the execution will provide closure for the victim’s family.
Alabama’s Governor, Kay Ivey, stated that the execution of Kenneth Smith could bring closure to the case.
Governor Ivey stated that on March 18, 1988, Kenneth Eugene Smith took the life of Elizabeth Sennett, who was 45 years old at the time, in a brutal manner.
“Mr. Smith has finally been held accountable for his heinous crimes after more than three decades of repeated attempts to manipulate the system.”
“The use of nitrogen hypoxia was deemed a lawful execution method, as requested by Mr. Smith as an alternative to lethal injection. Finally, Mr. Smith’s request has been fulfilled and this case can now be resolved.”
“I hope that Elizabeth Sennett’s family can find closure after years of dealing with such a profound loss.”
Which states permit the use of nitrogen gas for executions?
Nitrogen gas has been authorized for executing death row prisoners in three states.
The Alabama, Oklahoma, and Mississippi are included in those states.
Neither Oklahoma nor Mississippi has ever utilized the method of execution.
In 2018, Alabama became the first state to implement this method and put it into practice on January 25th when Kenneth Eugene Smith was executed.
The religious counselor has disclosed that Smith endured a 22-minute struggle for survival during his execution.
Reverend Jeff Hood, the religious counselor for Kenneth Smith, who was present at the execution, informed the media that he witnessed a man fighting for their life for a shocking duration of 22 minutes.
Authorities in Alabama had forecasted that the unproven technique would result in loss of consciousness within mere seconds and result in death in only a few minutes.
Despite the execution, the state maintained that it went according to plan.
However, according to witnesses, Smith remained conscious and was seen shaking and squirming for a few minutes while lying on the gurney.
Rev Hood stated that they did not witness someone becoming unconscious within 30 seconds.
The mask on the gurney caused the person’s head to jerk violently, causing them to spit and experience other symptoms.
Witness describes Kenneth Smith’s historic nitrogen gas execution
A witness recounts the groundbreaking use of nitrogen gas in the execution of Kenneth Smith.
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Kenneth Smith’s final words prior to his execution by nitrogen gas were:
Before his execution, Alabama death row prisoner Kenneth Eugene Smith declared that the state of Alabama had regressed as a society.
“The actions of Alabama tonight are a regression for humanity. … I depart with feelings of love, peace, and illumination,” he stated.
Smith gestured the sign for “I love you” towards his family members who were present as witnesses. He expressed gratitude for their support and declared his love for all of them.
What actions did Kenneth Eugene Smith take that resulted in the death penalty being imposed?
In 1988, Smith was found guilty of the murder of Elizabeth Dorlene Sennett in a premeditated scheme in Colbert County, Alabama.
Sennett was the spouse of Charles Sennett, a pastor at the Church of Christ, who reportedly offered to pay Smith and another individual $1,000 to murder his wife.
According to court documents, it is alleged that the pastor was heavily in debt and sought to claim insurance money upon her death.
Sennett met a violent death in her own residence. She was physically assaulted with a fireplace tool and received 10 stab wounds to her chest and neck. Her demise was manipulated to appear as a break-in and theft.
In 1989, Smith was convicted of capital murder and received a death sentence. However, the sentence was reversed on appeal in 1992.
He was given a life sentence without the possibility of parole by a jury vote of 11-1.
However, Smith was ultimately not exempted from receiving a death sentence. Despite the jury’s decision, the judge reinstated the death penalty for him in 1996.
Kenneth Smith, a prisoner on death row, was put to death using nitrogen gas.
Who is the individual who was killed, Elizabeth Sennett?
On March 18, 1988, Elizabeth Dorlene Sennett was discovered deceased in her residence, having sustained eight stab wounds to her chest and one on each side of her neck.
Kenneth Smith was found guilty and convicted for the murder, along with John Forrest Parker, who was put to death in 2010.
According to prosecutors, they were given $1,000 each to murder Sennett by her husband, a pastor who was facing financial difficulties and saw it as a way to cash in on insurance money.
According to court documents, Charles Sennett Sr., the husband, committed suicide after becoming a primary suspect in the investigation.
In 1989, Smith’s conviction was reversed, but he was found guilty again in 1996. Despite the jury’s recommendation of a life sentence by a majority of 11-1, the judge overruled it and imposed a death sentence.
Earlier, Charles Sennett Jr., the son of the victim, expressed to WAAY-TV that Smith must be held accountable for his actions.
“He didn’t ask Mama how to suffer,” he stated, addressing those who believe he does not need to endure such hardships.
“They have just committed the act. They violently pierced her with a sharp object – several times.”
The Attorney General of Alabama reports that 43 additional inmates on death row have chosen to utilize nitrogen hypoxia.
The Alabama Attorney General, Steve Marshall, stated that 43 other prisoners have chosen to utilize nitrogen gas for their executions.
According to the feedback he has received, the Attorney General predicts that other states will also adopt the new method of execution.
Up to this point, the only states that have given their approval are Mississippi and Oklahoma.
Although there were concerns and reports that Smith exhibited “writhing and thrashing” during the execution, the AG maintained that everything went according to plan on Thursday evening.
What occurred during the initial use of nitrogen gas for execution in the country?
Five journalists observed through a pane of glass as Kenneth Eugene Smith experienced convulsions while lying on a stretcher during Alabama’s implementation of the first execution in the country using nitrogen gas.
The following is a report from an Associated Press eyewitness:
Why do we show more compassion towards our pets than towards a prisoner on death row?
A less desirable option to lethal injection and the electric chair is being executed by inhaling pure nitrogen, which is said to be a painless process that gradually deprives the criminal of oxygen until they pass away.
However, would you utilize it to euthanize a sick pet? Sean O’Grady writes.
Why do we show more compassion towards our pets than towards someone on death row?
Officials in Alabama have proposed a morbid and unproven substitute for execution by lethal injection or electric chair – using pure nitrogen gas to induce death. This method is said to be painless, as it deprives the individual of oxygen until they pass away. However, would you consider using this method to euthanize a sick pet? This is the question posed by Sean O’Grady.
Source: independent.co.uk
