Atmore, Alabama became the first state to use nitrogen hypoxia to execute a convicted killer on Thursday. Kenneth Eugene Smith was put to death at the William C. Holman Correctional Facility. Smith had been on death row for over 30 years after being convicted of beating 45-year-old Elizabeth Sennett to death with a fireplace poker.
Smith was one of several death row inmates who chose nitrogen hypoxia over lethal injection as their method of execution. Alabama Governor Kay Ivey declined to exercise her clemency powers after the U.S. Supreme Court cleared the way for Smith’s execution to proceed.
Elizabeth Sennett’s life was taken in 1988, and after three decades, Smith finally faced the consequences for his actions. Governor Ivey defended the process and emphasized that Smith had chosen his method of execution. She also expressed hope that Sennett’s family can find closure after enduring such a great loss for so many years.
Smith’s execution by nitrogen hypoxia, the method he had previously requested, was carried out, bringing an end to the long wait for justice for Sennett’s family. Smith was pronounced dead at 8:25 p.m.
Alabama’s use of nitrogen hypoxia for executions sets a precedent for other states and ignites a debate surrounding alternative methods of carrying out the death penalty. This execution sparks discussions about the ethics and humaneness of different methods of capital punishment.
The decision to resort to nitrogen hypoxia also raises questions about the effectiveness of lethal injection as a method of execution. Some argue that alternative methods should be explored to potentially improve the process and reduce the risk of unnecessary suffering for the condemned.
As the first of its kind, Smith’s execution brings attention to the ongoing controversy surrounding the death penalty in the United States and may influence future discussions and decisions regarding capital punishment.