Smith was sentenced to death in 1988 for a murder of a 45-year-old woman that he carried out on behalf of the woman’s husband. Since then was imprisoned awaiting execution.
In 2022, a failed attempt was made to inject poison as doctors were unable to find his veins.
Will die after a few minutes
Alabama’s attorney general said before the execution that Smith would lose consciousness within seconds and die from lack of oxygen after a few minutes, reports the news agency AP.
Not accepted by veterinary associations
The hitherto untested method has been met with strong criticism from several quarters.
Including experts at the UN Council for Human Rights who warned that the method could constitute torture and humiliation as well as inhumane punishment.
The UN also draws attention to the American Veterinary Association’s guidelines that the method is not accepted for several mammals. The reason is that it can cause too much stress.
The lawyers: Used as guinea pigs
Smith’s lawyers have waged a legal battle to stop the execution, arguing that Alabama is using the convicted murderer as a guinea pig.
They also believe that the nitrogen gas method requires further legal review before it can be used on prisoners.