Alabama’s Execution of Kenneth Smith by Nitrogen Hypoxia Decried as Barbaric Torture
Montgomery, Alabama – The state of Alabama carried out a controversial execution last night, using an untested method that experts have deemed too cruel for use on animals. Kenneth Smith, who was convicted of assisting in a murder in 1988, was put to death by nitrogen hypoxia, a method condemned by veterinary scientists and professional organizations. The execution has reignited the debate over the use of the death penalty in the United States. Smith’s case …