In a historic event, Kenneth Smith, a convicted murderer, has been executed using nitrogen gas in the United States, marking the first time this method has been used in the country.
Officials confirmed that 58-year-old Smith was pronounced dead at 8:25pm on Thursday (02:25 GMT on Friday) at Holman Correctional Facility in Alabama after being exposed to pure nitrogen gas through a face mask, resulting in oxygen deprivation.
This execution method is a significant departure from the commonly used lethal injection, which has been in place since 1982.
Alabama has described the new protocol as “the most painless and humane method of execution known to man,” emphasizing its perceived advantages.
The last time gas was used for an execution in the US was in 1999, when hydrogen cyanide gas was employed to put a convicted murderer to death.
Notably, Alabama is one of three states, along with Oklahoma and Mississippi, that have approved the use of nitrogen hypoxia as a method of execution.
Article from www.aljazeera.com