Kenneth Eugene Smith

2024 - 1 - 26

Outcry as Alabama Executes Hitman Kenneth Smith with Nitrogen: A Historic & Controversial Event

Alabama Execution - Capital Punishment - Kenneth Eugene Smith - Nitrogen Gas Method

Kenneth Eugene Smith, a convicted killer, becomes the first US death row inmate executed by nitrogen asphyxia, sparking global outrage.

In a historic and controversial event, Alabama executed hitman Kenneth Eugene Smith using nitrogen gas, marking the first time a US death row inmate faced such a fate. Smith, convicted of a murder dating back to 1989, experienced the suffocation process with a gas mask and pure nitrogen gas, a method criticized by human rights groups. Despite expressing love for his family in his final moments, Smith's execution triggered condemnation from the UN and EU. The unconventional death by nitrogen gas has raised moral and ethical debates on capital punishment.

This execution by a 'novel' method saw Kenneth Eugene Smith thrashing and writhing for minutes, illustrating the grim reality of death row sentences. Alabama's decision to utilize nitrogen gas sparked skepticism, with concerns over the execution's humaneness and effectiveness. As the first condemned US inmate to meet this fate, Smith's case adds fuel to the ongoing discourse on the death penalty's fairness and legitimacy.

Kenneth's wife's emotional outcry during the prolonged execution highlighted the intense emotions surrounding the event. The global outrage following Smith's death underscores the divisive nature of capital punishment practices. UN and EU condemnation post-execution emphasized the contentious nature of lethal injection alternatives. Despite the legal proceedings, Kenneth Eugene Smith's execution remains a pivotal moment in the history of US criminal justice, stirring debates on the morality of America's death penalty system.

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Image courtesy of "The Independent"

Outcry as Alabama executes hitman Kenneth Smith with first new ... (The Independent)

Kenneth Eugene Smith is set to become the first US death row inmate executed by nitrogen asphyxia.

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Image courtesy of "Daily Mail"

Kenneth Eugene Smith becomes first person in HISTORY to be ... (Daily Mail)

The convicted killer, 58, had a gas mask placed over his nose and mouth before a stream of 100 percent nitrogen gas suffocated him, which was left on for 15 ...

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Image courtesy of "LBC"

Final words of Kenneth Eugene Smith, Alabama prisoner executed ... (LBC)

Kenneth Eugene Smith, who became the first US prisoner to be executed by nitrogen gas on Thursday night, told his family he loved them before he was killed.

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Image courtesy of "AOL"

Kenneth Eugene Smith: Alabama carries out first nitrogen gas ... (AOL)

In 2022, Alabama tried and failed to execute Smith by lethal injection. He was convicted in 1989 of murdering a preacher's wife, Elizabeth Sennett, in a killing ...

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Image courtesy of "Yahoo News Australia"

Outcry as death row inmate Kenneth Smith is killed by nitrogen in ... (Yahoo News Australia)

Kenneth Eugene Smith put to death using the 'novel' method – despite condemnation from the UN and human rights groups.

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Image courtesy of "EL PAÍS in English"

Alabama uses experimental nitrogen gas method to kill death row ... (EL PAÍS in English)

Kenneth Eugene Smith was found guilty of murdering a woman in the 1980s and had survived another attempt at execution by lethal injection in which the vein ...

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Image courtesy of "The New York Times"

Alabama Hails Nitrogen Gas Execution, a New Attempt to Address ... (The New York Times)

Fending off doubts and criticisms, Alabama's attorney general hailed a new execution method as “humane and effective.”

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Image courtesy of "CBS News"

Kenneth Eugene Smith executed by nitrogen hypoxia in Alabama ... (CBS News)

Alabama went through with its planned execution on Thursday of Kenneth Eugene Smith, who was the first condemned inmate in the U.S. put to death using ...

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Image courtesy of "Metro"

Kenneth Eugene Smith and the first nitrogen gas death penalty (Metro)

Alabama hitman Kenneth Eugene Smith, 58, was executed by nitrogen gas Thursday after 35 years on death row at Holman Correctional Facility.

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Image courtesy of "Evening Standard"

Kenneth Eugene Smith: Alabama becomes first US state to execute ... (Evening Standard)

Alabama death row inmate 'writhed for minutes' in first execution using nitrogen gas ... A convicted murderer thrashed and writhed as he was put to death in an ...

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Image courtesy of "The Associated Press"

Alabama executes a man with nitrogen gas for the first time (The Associated Press)

Kenneth Eugene Smith, a 58-year-old convicted killer, has become the first person in the U.S. to be executed with nitrogen gas at a South Alabama prison.

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Image courtesy of "BBC News"

Kenneth Eugene Smith: Alabama carries out first US nitrogen gas ... (BBC News)

Witnesses observed two to four minutes of writhing by convicted murderer Kenneth Smith before he died.

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Image courtesy of "New York Post"

Kenneth Eugene Smith's wife 'cried out' during historic nitrogen ... (New York Post)

The wife of killer Kenneth Eugene Smith reportedly cried out as he thrashed against his restraints during the 22 minutes it took for him to become the first ...

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Image courtesy of "al.com"

Kenneth Eugene Smith's Alabama execution draws global outrage ... (al.com)

The 27-nation European Union and the Geneva-based U.N. rights office say the death penalty violates the right to life.

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Image courtesy of "WVTM13"

Live Updates: Alabama to execute Kenneth Eugene Smith (WVTM13)

Video above: The execution timeline. Contract killer Kenneth Eugene Smith is set to be executed by nitrogen hypoxia at 6 p.m. on Thursday. Advertisement.

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Image courtesy of "Nebraska Examiner"

Kenneth Eugene Smith executed by nitrogen gas for 1988 murder ... (Nebraska Examiner)

The state of Alabama executed Kenneth Eugene Smith on Thursday, the first ever carried out with nitrogen gas.

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Image courtesy of "Minnesota Reformer"

Kenneth Eugene Smith executed by nitrogen gas for 1988 murder ... (Minnesota Reformer)

Smith convulsed for two minutes, with seven minutes of heavy breathing as he took large breaths.

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Image courtesy of "BBC News"

Kenneth Eugene Smith: UN condemns Alabama nitrogen gas ... (BBC News)

A journalist who witnessed the execution told the BBC that Smith thrashed violently on the gurney. Smith was convicted in 1989 of murdering a preacher's wife, ...

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Image courtesy of "Idaho Capital Sun"

Kenneth Eugene Smith executed by nitrogen gas for 1988 murder ... (Idaho Capital Sun)

Smith was convicted and sentenced to death in Alabama for his role in the murder-for-hire killing of Elizabeth Sennett 1989 ...

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Image courtesy of "USA TODAY"

After Kenneth Smith's execution by nitrogen gas, UN and EU ... (USA TODAY)

The U.N. Human Rights Office and the European Union on Friday condemned the execution of an Alabama man by an untested method of capital punishment.

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Image courtesy of "MARCA.com"

Kenneth Eugene Smith wife's emotional reaction during nitrogen ... (MARCA.com)

Kenneth Eugene Smith, convicted in the murder-for-hire case of preacher's wife Elizabeth Sennett in 1988, became the first person in the US to be executed ...

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Image courtesy of "The Independent"

Kenneth Smith's execution condemned with 43 more death row ... (The Independent)

Kenneth Eugene Smith became the first US death row inmate executed by nitrogen asphyxia.

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Image courtesy of "The Wall Street Journal"

Alabama Inmate Kenneth Eugene Smith Was Executed by Nitrogen ... (The Wall Street Journal)

An error occurred. Please try again later. A death-row inmate lost an appeal at the Supreme Court. Photo: Kim Chandler/Associated Press. Alabama executed an ...

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Image courtesy of "al.com"

White House troubled by Alabama's nitrogen gas execution of ... (al.com)

"The reports of Kenneth Smith and his death last night, obviously, is troubling,” said Karine Jean-Pierre.

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Image courtesy of "New York Post"

Kenneth Eugene Smith's spiritual advisor describes first-ever ... (New York Post)

A spiritual advisor for executed Alabama inmate Kenneth Eugene Smith and his family said staffers inside the execution chamber at W.C. Holman Correctional ...

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Image courtesy of "New Zealand Herald"

Alabama man Kenneth Smith man 'shook violently' on gurney during ... (New Zealand Herald)

Warning: Graphic content A man put to death using nitrogen gas shook and convulsed for minutes on the gurney as Alabama carried out the first-of-its-kind...

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