Convicted murderer Kenneth Smith, who tried in vain to hold his breath during nitrogen asphyxiation, a new method of execution, was executed in Alabama on Thursday, Reuters reported. The last time the United States “innovated” this field was four decades ago, when lethal injection was introduced.

Smith, who was so punished for a contract killing in 1988, was a convicted survivor – an extremely rare case – of an attempted execution. In November 2022, Alabama authorities canceled his execution by lethal injection after he spent hours trying to insert an IV needle into his veins.

The state of Alabama said the new method was “the most painless and humane method of execution known to man.” Authorities said Smith would lose consciousness in less than a minute and die shortly afterward, but witnesses said Thursday that it appeared to take several minutes longer.

Alabama has touted asphyxiation as a simpler alternative for prison systems struggling to find the substances needed for lethal injections.

Human rights groups, United Nations torture experts and Smith’s lawyers tried to block it, saying the method was risky, experimental and could result in severe death or non-fatal injuries.

The gruesome details of the execution, which does not seem to have taken place as promised by the authorities

On Thursday, during Smith’s second — and final — trip to the death chamber, executioners secured him on a gurney and strapped an over-the-counter respirator to his face.

A cylinder with pure nitrogen was attached to the mask, which began to circulate, depriving him of oxygen. The execution began at 19:53 (01:53 GMT on Friday) and Smith was pronounced dead at 20:25 (02:25 GMT), prison officials said.

According to five journalists who were allowed to watch the execution through a window as media witnesses, Smith remained conscious for several minutes after the nitrogen was released.

Although the mask was also strapped to the stretcher, he began to nod and squirm for about two minutes, and was then seen breathing deeply for several minutes before his breathing slowed and became imperceptible, witnesses said.

“Smith seemed to hold his breath as long as he could. He struggled a little in the shackles, but it was involuntary movement and painful breathing. This was to be expected,” Alabama Corrections Commissioner John Hamm said at a news conference.

The Reverend Geoff Hood, Smith’s spiritual adviser, was with him during the execution and said the jailers in the room were “visibly surprised at how badly things went”.

“I saw someone fighting for his life for several minutes. I watched someone struggle back and forth for a few minutes. I saw spit. I saw everything coming out of his mouth and onto his mask. I saw this mask being tied to the stretcher and he was jerking his head forward over and over and over again,” said Hood, who witnessed the fifth execution in the past 15 months.

A new method for death row inmates that had not been used before

Before releasing the nitrogen, Smith made a long closing statement that began with the sentence, “Alabama took a step back for humanity tonight.”

His wife and other relatives were present and he gestured to them. “I am leaving with love, peace and light. I love you all,” he said, according to journalists present.

Smith challenged the sentence in federal courts, arguing that Alabama’s new method constituted unconstitutional “cruel and unusual punishment,” but failed to persuade a judge to delay his execution.

His lawyers cited concerns that the mask would not properly fit Smith’s face, allowing oxygen to enter, delaying or even preventing the moment of unconsciousness, but risking serious brain damage.

While poisonous gases such as hydrogen cyanide have been used in executions in the U.S. and abroad in the past, this was the first time a death sentence was carried out in the world using an inert gas to suffocate someone, experts say. .

Oklahoma and Mississippi have also approved nitrogen asphyxiation methods for executions, but have not yet used the method.

Smith, who suffered bouts of nausea after the first execution attempt, also expressed concern that he would vomit into the mask and suffocate.

In response, jailers said they would serve him his last meal on Thursday morning and forbid any solid food after 10am. His last meal was steak, fries and eggs.