2024-02-14 04:36:30
“He tried to get up,” testified witnesses to his execution.
On Thursday, January 25, 2024 in the State of Alabama in the United States executed with nitrogen gas to Kenneth Eugene Smith. Today, family members and journalists who witnessed the sentencing revealed details of the moment.
“Tonight Alabama makes humanity take a step back. Thanks for your support. “I love you all,” said Kenneth Smith, the first sentenced to death capital with nitrogen gas.
The decision was filled with criticism since had never been useddeath by suffocation, as a method of execution in the US.
Likewise, American medical professionals warned that the gas could cause violent convulsions until survival in a vegetative state, which contradicted what was said by the American authorities who assured “this method will allow a faster and painless death“.
Kenneth Smith was sentenced to death in 1996 after several trials, for murder for hire of Elizabeth Sennett in 1998.
Charles Sennett, her husbandan indebted preacher made a plan to be able to collect insurance money.
Details of Kenneth Smith’s execution
The Supreme Court of the United States authorized its execution shortly before 7:00 p.m. local time, after which he was taken to the execution chamber.
He reverend Jeff Hoodwho accompanied Kenneth Smith during much of the execution, even months before, confessed that at first they told him that he was resisting.
“Today is my release date, I am out of here“said the condemned man according to the reverend before reciting the typical biblical passages prior to his execution.
“When I was in the chamber, before they opened the curtains, moved his head aroundlike I was listening to music,” Hood (Jeff) added.
The journalists present and their testimonies about the execution of Kenneth Smith
Five journalists of media such as The Montgomery Advertiser y The Associated Presstogether with family members of Kenneth Smith, They witnessed the outcome It ended at 7:53 p.m.
Ralph Chapoco The Alabama Reflector narrated how the sentenced tried reassure your relatives with meaningful gestures.
“From the moment the curtain opened and throughout the time the prison staff read the death warrant, Kenneth Eugene Smith He did not take his eyes off his supporters or his family members“he declared.
Furthermore, he added that in addition to looking at each one’s faces, He smiled at them and made gestures with his hands. that said I love you in the air.
“He seemed to be struggling to breathe. for approximately four minutes, a time during which also triedin vain, break free from security bands “They were holding him to the stretcher,” said Marty Roney, a reporter for The Montgomery Advertiser.
“for four minuteshe was panting. He seemed conscious. He convulsed, he writhed, the stretcher shook noticeably,” he added to the story.
Likewise, from the Alabama prison system, Commissioner John Hamm explained to the media that this behavior was due to the fact that held his breath when nitrogen flowed through the mask.
Elizabeth Senneth’s family was also present
Mike Senneth, son of the late Elizabeth Senneth was present in the room intended for the victim’s relatives, and at a press conference He admitted that he will never be able to forget his violent last moments.
“We had been told it would take two or three breaths and then it would go away. That’s not what happened”, he confessed to the press.
He also mentioned that “tried to get up“, something he considered a possible survival instinct.