Death row inmate’s gasoline execution might be painless, says AG

Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall insisted immediately that the controversial nitrogen hypoxia execution scheduled for Kenneth Eugene Smith tonight might be painless and won’t trigger him to vomit as he fears. 

Smith is because of be executed at 6pm tonight on the William C. Holman Correctional Facility in Atmore. He has begged for it to be referred to as off, citing his fears that the experimental gassing methodology will trigger excruciating ache or trigger him to vomit. 

The Supreme Court yesterday denied an software for a keep. He filed one other request immediately because the execution approached.

Kenneth Eugene Smith was sentenced to loss of life in 1996 after admitting the murder-for-hire killing of a pastor’s spouse who was crushed and stabbed in 1988

Elizabeth Sennett, 45, was discovered useless on March 18, 1988, within the couple’s house in Alabama’s Colbert County. She had been stabbed eight instances within the chest and as soon as on all sides of neck

In response, Marshall mentioned his fears are unfounded. 

Quoting specialists together with euthanasia knowledgeable Dr. Philip Nitschke, Marshall mentioned nitrogen hypoxia is a ‘peaceable’ technique to finish a human life. 

Nitschke had testified for Smith’s authorized workforce, who claimed the dangers lay within the gasoline being administered via a masks. 

 In rebuttal, Marshall mentioned the state’s masks has been inspected and is tight sufficient to make sure no oxygen leaks in and prolongs the proceedings. 

He quoted Nitschke’s assist of nitrogen hypoxia in assisted suicide as additional proof of how painless the execution might be. 

‘Among many issues for Smith was his star witness, Dr. Philip Nitschke, who would possibly as effectively have testified for the State. 

‘Before becoming a member of Smith’s trigger, Dr. Nitschke mentioned that critics of Alabama’s methodology have been “misrepresenting the science,”‘ Marshall wrote. 

Dr. Nitschke – who has been referred to colloquially as ‘Dr. Death’ – said in the past that the method was ‘fast’, ‘effective’, ‘peaceful’ and ‘reliable.’ 

Kenneth Smith is set to be executed with nitrogen gas this week, which the UN has branded ‘torture’ and scientists have largely banned from animal experiments

Alabama’s lethal injection chamber at Holman Correctional Facility in Atmore, Ala., is pictured in this Oct. 7, 2002 file photo. Kenneth Smith, 58, is scheduled to be executed Jan. 25, 2024

Elizabeth’s preacher husband Charles Sennett Sr., who was in debt and terrified that she’d discover it 

He also dismissed Smith’s fears about vomiting into the mask. 

‘Grasping at straws, Smith quibbled with the way nitrogen will be delivered. First, he said the mask is too loose and will let air inside it. But the State dispelled that concern when it produced the mask. 

‘Second, Smith said that in the precise few seconds between when gas enters the mask and he loses consciousness, he will vomit and choke to death. But the district court found (twice over) that Smith’s fear was “speculative”, “theoretical,” and “unlikely.”

‘Smith alleged that he would possibly vomit throughout the execution as a result of he suffers from nausea. 

‘On cross-examination, nonetheless, Smith’s knowledgeable Katherine Porterfield admitted that Smith had not reported any vomiting. ‘ 

He added that if Smith vomits into his masks earlier than the gasoline is run, the  medical workforce in place will take away it and clear it. 

If he vomits into his masks as soon as the gasoline has been launched, they won’t intervene. 

Smith mentioned that could be a ‘extremely theoretical’ state of affairs based mostly on a ‘cascade of unlikely occasions’. 

Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall says the execution is extra light than Smith deserves