"Alabama Executes Death Row Inmate Using Nitrogen Gas in Landmark Case"

Contract killer Kenneth Eugene Smith was executed by nitrogen hypoxia in Alabama, the first execution of its kind, following a statement from the Attorney General and Governor Kay Ivey. The execution has been condemned by Amnesty International, citing concerns about the new, untested method and calling for a moratorium on the death penalty. Smith's execution took about 22 minutes, during which he appeared to remain conscious for several minutes, and he made a final statement before his death.