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Alabama inmate becomes first in US to be executed with nitrogen gas

by Sarah Polus - 01/25/24 11:06 PM ET

FILE - This undated photo provided by the Alabama Department of Corrections shows inmate Kenneth Eugene Smith, who was convicted in a 1988 murder-for-hire slaying of a preacher's wife. Alabama will be allowed to put Smith to death with nitrogen gas later this month, a federal judge ruled Wednesday, Jan. 10, 2024, clearing the way for what would be the nation’s first execution under a new method the inmate’s lawyers criticize as cruel and experimental. (Alabama Department of Corrections via AP, File) — FILE – This undated photo provided by the Alabama Department of Corrections shows inmate Kenneth Eugene Smith, who was convicted in a 1988 murder-for-hire slaying of a preacher’s wife. Alabama will be allowed to put Smith to death with nitrogen gas later this month, a federal judge ruled Wednesday, Jan. 10, 2024, clearing the way for what would be the nation’s first execution under a new method the inmate’s lawyers criticize as cruel and experimental. (Alabama Department of Corrections via AP, File)

Alabama on Thursday became the first state to execute a death row inmate using nitrogen gas.

Kenneth Smith was put to death by nitrogen hypoxia at the William C. Holman Correctional Facility in Atmore, Ala., making his execution the first in the U.S. to be carried out using the previously untested method.

Smith was executed for his role in the murder-for-hire plot of Elizabeth Sennett in 1988.

Alabama Department of Corrections Commissioner John Hamm addressed reporters during a press conference later Thursday night, noting that the state began carrying out the execution at 7:53 p.m. CST. Smith was pronounced deceased at 8:25 p.m. CST.

Nitrogen gas was flowing for approximately 15 minutes during the execution, Hamm noted.

Smith reportedly shook for at least two minutes after the execution began and appeared conscious for several minutes, according to pool media witnesses. Hamm said Smith held his breath initially and that the movements were involuntary and were expected side effects of death by nitrogen gas based on their research. He also claimed he didn’t notice Smith remaining conscious.

“Nothing was out of the ordinary of what we were expecting,” Hamm said in response to the claims.

Pool media witnesses report that Smith’s final statement was “Tonight, Alabama caused humanity to take a step backward.”

Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall (R) praised the execution, saying “Justice has been served.”

“Tonight, Kenneth Smith was put to death for the heinous act he committed over 35 years ago: the murder-for-hire slaying of Elizabeth Sennett, an innocent woman who was by all accounts a godly wife, a loving mother and grandmother, and a beloved pillar of her community,” he said in a written statement.

The victim’s family said it was a “bittersweet day” in remarks during the press conference, but that Sennett got “justice.”

The execution was carried out shortly after the U.S. Supreme Court declined to stop the execution from taking place.

Tags nitrogen hypoxia Steve Marshall