.ON JANUARY 25TH Kenneth Eugene Smith became the very first individual anywhere to become put to death through nitrogen hypoxia. He was pronounced guilty in 1989 of killing Elizabeth Sennett, the spouse of a preacher coming from Alabama, on her hubby’s orders. The state had first attempted to execute him, through deadly injection, in Nov 2022, but bungled the operation.
After that, Mr Smith selected to become put to death through novel methods. His execution has created shock: Alabama declares nitrogen hypoxia is actually an easy, easy fatality yet many medical specialists disagree. Some have compared it to abuse.
Why carried out Alabama authorise this unproved procedure?