An Alabama inmate shared his haunting final words before being executed with nitrogen hypoxia.
Kenneth Eugene Smith, sentenced to death in 1988 for the murder of the preacher’s wife Elizabeth Sennett, was meant to be executed with lethal injection in November 2022, but prison officials tried unsuccessfully to find a vein and had to call off the execution after four hours.
The 58-year-old found himself in the same position again on Thursday (January 25) - almost 14 months later after the botched attempt - at the William C. Holman prison, but this time he was executed with nitrogen hypoxia.
Smith was strapped to a gurney and had a gas mask placed over his face before a stream of 100 percent nitrogen gas suffocated him. According to Daily Mail, he was officially pronounced dead at 8:25PM local time, 22 minutes after the nitrogen gas was first administered. At 8:07PM, a corrections officer examined him, before stepping back against the wall to let the execution resume.
In the weeks leading up to Smith's execution, state officials contended that the method would quickly induce unconsciousness and subsequent death, however, the UN's High Commissioner for Human Rights asserted that it amounts to inhuman treatment and urged for a block, as reported by the BBC.
The prisoner's legal team also argued that putting convicts through several execution attempts violates the Eighth Amendment of the US Constitution, which protects against "cruel and unusual punishments" inflicted. But, the justices rejected the appeal on Wednesday (January 24), one day before the planned execution.
Smith made another legal request to the lower 11th US Circuit Court of Appeals where he challenged the legitimacy of Alabama's nitrogen gas protocol. However, the court also denied the inmate's bid for an injunction in a ruling on Wednesday evening (January 24), stating: "Smith has failed to show a substantial likelihood of success on the merits of his claims," as cited by CNN.
The prisoner's attorneys tried several last-ditch attempts to spare his life an hour after his scheduled execution time of 6PM, but the Supreme Court issued its final decision in the case - allowing Alabama to continue with the execution.
Liberal Supreme Court Justices Sonia Sotomayor, Elena Kagan, and Ketanji Onyika Brown Jackson disagreed, according to The Independent.
Before the nitrogen was administered yesterday, Smith had his last meal which was steak, eggs, and hash browns. He also shared some final words with his family and those watching the moment through a glass window.
Onlookers who witnessed correctional authorities administer the death penalty said the prisoner’s final words were: "Tonight Alabama causes humanity to take a step backwards... Thank you for supporting me. Love you all," per the outlet.
"I’m leaving with love, peace, and light," Smith reportedly said, before turning to his family and signing "I love you." The witnesses also said that they saw the inmate trembling and squirming before the curtains closed at 8.15PM.
Mike Sennett - who is one of Elizabeth's sons - spoke to media after the execution was completed and remarked that his mother "got her justice" after the murderer's "debt was paid" tonight.
At the press conference, Mike added: "Nothing happened here today that’s going to bring Mom back. It's kind of a bittersweet day. We're not going to be jumping around, hooting and hollering 'hooray' and all that. That's not us. But we're glad this day is over.
"All three of the people involved in this case years ago, we have forgiven. Not today but we have in the past," he continued. "Some people may not believe that, you know, how do you forgive somebody. Well, in an effort to be more Christ-like, try to live his teachings and stuff, it is my duty and it is a weight off my shoulders."
The late victim's son said that he "forgives" Smith, stating: "I don't like what he done but they are forgiven from us," before explaining: "The Bible says evil deeds have consequences - and Kenneth Smith made some bad decisions 35 years ago - and his debt was paid tonight.
"Some of you may have heard us talk about over and over about 35 years, 35 years. 35 years - Kenneth Smith, Parker, Williams - Williams not so much because he died in the system, but Parker and Smith have been incarcerated almost twice as long as I knew my mom," he added.
"Elizabeth Dorlene Thorne Sennett got her justice tonight," Mike concluded.
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