The state of Alabama became the first state to kill a death row prisoner, Kenneth Eugene Smith, with a new method of execution, nitrogen hypoxia. Hypoxia occurs when your cells/tissues do not get the amount of oxygen they need, causing shortness of breath, coughing, fatigue, and nausea.
This is not the first time the state of Alabama tried to kill Smith, the first attempt by lethal injection which took approximately an hour and ended in abysmal failure. The execution was immediately called off because an IV line could not be attached. Justice Sonia Sotomayor along with two other liberal justices, produced the idea to make Smith their “guineas pig,” and introduce the brutal manner to kill him with nitrogen gas.
Smith’s spiritual adviser, Jeff Hood stated, “The execution did not match the state attorney general’s prediction in court filings that Smith would lose consciousness in seconds followed by death within minutes.”
They introduced the nitrogen gas to Smith at 7:57 pm, and yet it took over 30 minutes for him to be pronounced dead. Smith’s final statement was, “Tonight Alabama causes humanity to take a step backwards, I’m leaving with love, peace, and light. After this was stated, he then makes a “I love you”, sign with his hands towards his relatives who were witnesses. “Thank you for supporting me. Love, love all of you,” Smith said.
Nitrogen gas should never be the way to end one’s life, it is complete torture that one should never experience.