Kenneth Smith ‘struggled for life’ for 22 minutes in Alabama nitrogen gas execution: Updates

some_guy@lemmy.sdf.org to News@lemmy.world – 708 points – Kenneth Smith ‘struggled for life’ for 22 minutes in nitrogen gas execution: Updates
independent.co.uk

“Kenny just began to gasp for air repeatedly and the execution took about 25 minutes total.”

Pretty compassionate way to kill a person.

Once again, the Law in the south is brutal.

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It's a well-tested method, they botched the methodology.

https://www.ladbible.com/news/us-news/kenneth-smith-execution-euthanasia-pod-creator-193400-20240125

The process - which is only authorised by Alabama, Oklahoma and Mississippi - involves breathing in nitrogen through a respirator mask placed over the inmate's nose and mouth, which kills them as a result of oxygen deprivation.

Well shit, they should have at least used a full face covering or a hood at minimum.

Where does it say in that article that it's well-tested or that they botched it?

Where does it say in that article that it’s well-tested

Dr Nitschke was called to testify by lawyers representing Smith and claims he has seen around 50 people die by nitrogen hypoxia.

Considering he's an expert on the matter, I assume he would have said if these past events he witnessed went poorly.

or that they botched it?

He said that when he examined the chamber Smith's execution will be carried out in and the mask that will be used, he became 'anxious' as he could not promise the death row inmate that everything would go as planned.