Posted on 01/25/2024 9:08:57 PM PST by RandFan
Alabama has executed convicted murderer Kenneth Eugene Smith with nitrogen gas, the first time the method of capital punishment has been used in the US.
Smith, 58, lost two final appeals to the Supreme Court and one to a federal appeals court, arguing the execution was a cruel and unusual punishment.
In 2022, Alabama tried and failed to execute Smith by lethal injection.
He was convicted in 1989 of murdering a preacher's wife, Elizabeth Sennett, in a killing-for-hire.
According to the Death Penalty Information Center, Smith is the first person to be put to death using pure nitrogen gas anywhere in the world.
Five members of the media were transported by van to Holman Correctional Facility in Atmore to witness the execution.
"Tonight Alabama causes humanity to take a step backwards," Smith said, according to witnesses. "Thank you for supporting me. Love all of you."
After the gas began to flow into his mask, the inmate is said to have smiled, nodded toward his family and signed "I love you".
Witnesses observed two to four minutes of writhing and about five minutes of heavy breathing before he was pronounced dead at 20:25 local time (02:35 GMT).
Breathing nitrogen without oxygen causes cells in the body to break down and leads to death.
Alabama Governor Kay Ivey, who did not respond to a request to attend the execution, confirmed Smith's death in a statement.
"After more than 30 years and attempt after attempt to game the system, Mr Smith has answered for his horrendous crimes," she said.
"I pray that Elizabeth Sennett's family can receive closure after all these years dealing with that great loss."
Attorney General Steve Marshall said it had proved to be "an effective and humane method of execution", refuting the "dire predictions" of activists and the media.
(Excerpt) Read more at bbc.co.uk ...
Thread #7…. We’re goin’ for a record before the sun rises
WHO CARES!
This one gives the international perspective
“Witnesses observed two to four minutes of writhing and about five minutes of heavy breathing before he was pronounced dead at 20:25 local time (02:35 GMT).”
Oh well. What did his victim get? Next time, a firing squad. Swift and sure.
Is this the same gas that was used on the Jews in WWII?
This is why I don’t live in a state with the death penalty: what if I’m wrongly convicted of murder, I could be put down by the state.
I hope the deep south is proud tonight. s/
Odd. When workers die in industrial accidents from nitrogen, they simply pass out. They get zero warning, not even enough to take two or three steps to escape the confined space.
And this guy does the funky chicken for 5 minutes? Not buying it.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2021_Georgia_poultry_plant_accident
The liquid nitrogen leak occurred shortly after 10:00 a.m. EST.[2] It was falsely initially reported to have been an explosion.[4] The leak occurred in a freezer room at the plant.[7] Three workers entered the freezer room and immediately died of asphyxiation.[1][8] Additional workers subsequently entered the room, two of whom also died immediately.[7] A sixth person died while being transported to the hospital
They used carbon monoxide. And they later used a cyanide based gas. Both of those are horrible.
This is simply the absence of oxygen and presto, lights out.
Industrial workers why die from it usually have zero perception of it. They usually just collapse. The training for workers is well known.
He should have been executed a long time ago. That’s the only problem I have with the death penalty, is that it takes too long.
This is just more media belly aching and lying.
Yep, tru dat,
this is left msm bull still
“And this guy does the funky chicken for 5 minutes? Not buying it.”
Thinking on it more, I’m not either. Gonna agree here. Oh well if it was. I’m not gonna sob for the guy.
Flick sakes. A hit of fentanyl or a good strong gram of heroin puts you down. You just go to sleep and turn blue.
Is this the same gas that was used on the Jews in WWII?
This is why I don’t live in a state with the death penalty: what if I’m wrongly convicted of murder, I could be put down by the state.
I hope the deep south is proud tonight. s/
****************
We have a corrupt and selfish law system, that cares about one thing.......convict....convict.....convict.(Plus filling up their bank accounts)
These parasites don’t give a crap about the truth...the truth....the truth.
If they did....innocent people wouldn’t ever be wrongly imprisoned or murdered for the crimes they didn’t commit.
Conservatives who have a blood lust addiction need to examine why they like the thought of killing people.
“It’s a Soul Issue” if you hate this criminal you’ve read about. My question is:
Could you pull the trigger & be the executioner?
I know my answer. Would you like to guess what it is?
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.