Alabama executes Kenneth Eugene Smith using nitrogen gas
Newsy
Smith was the first person in U.S. history to be executed via nitrogen hypoxia. His lawyers argued the method could be cruel and unusual punishment.
Authorities in Alabama put Kenneth Eugene Smith to death Thursday using nitrogen hypoxia, marking the first time the method has been used for execution in U.S. history.
Officials in Alabama said Smith was pronounced dead at 8:25 p.m. after breathing from a mask that delivered pure nitrogen gas.
Wednesday, the U.S. Supreme Court denied a request by Smith to block the execution. Also Wednesday, the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals cleared the way for Alabama to proceed with the execution.
In execution by nitrogen hypoxia, a person is deprived of oxygen and forced to breathe pure nitrogen. Death results when oxygen levels in the blood drop too low.
Alabama, along with Oklahoma and Mississippi, are the first states to authorize execution by the method.
