An Alabama man convicted of first-degree murder became the first death row inmate to be executed via nitrogen gas on Thursday.
Kenneth Eugene Smith, who killed Elizabeth Sennett in 1988 in a murder-for-hire plot, was declared dead at 8:25 p.m. Thursday after a mask was put over his face which pumped nitrogen gas into his body, the Montgomery Advertiser reported. Alabama Republican Governor Kay Ivey confirmed the execution shortly after Smith, 58, was declared dead.
“After more than 30 years and attempt after attempt to game the system, Mr. Smith has answered for his horrendous crimes,” Ivey said. “The execution was lawfully carried out by nitrogen hypoxia, the method previously requested by Mr. Smith as an alternative to lethal injection.”
“I pray that Elizabeth Sennett’s family can receive closure after all these years dealing with that great loss,” Ivey added, according…
