Alabama – Kenneth Smith, a death row inmate at the Holman Correctional Facility, is facing yet another execution date, this time by an untested method – death by nitrogen gas. Smith’s harrowing experience with failed lethal injection in 2022 has left him traumatized and suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder. As the scheduled execution date approaches, Smith grapples with the anguish of reliving the trauma and the fears associated with the new method of execution.
His first execution attempt in 2022 was halted after prison officials were unable to find a vein for the lethal injection, leaving Smith suspended upside down on a gurney with puncture holes all over his body. Now, he faces the prospect of being the first person in the US to be executed using nitrogen gas, a method rejected by veterinarians on ethical grounds.
Smith’s traumatic experience with the failed execution attempt has left him plagued by nightmares, insomnia, anxiety, and depression. As he prepares for the looming execution date, he grapples with the physical and mental toll it has taken on him.
Despite his impending execution, Smith remains reflective, expressing remorse for his crime while also questioning the lack of mercy in his sentencing. He acknowledges the pain and suffering his actions have caused, yet feels that his 35 years on death row have been a form of punishment in themselves.
The new method of execution, nitrogen hypoxia, involves forcing the prisoner to breathe pure nitrogen, leading to oxygen deprivation and eventual death. The untested nature of this method has raised concerns about the potential for a prolonged and distressing death, adding to Smith’s fear and anxiety as the execution date approaches.
Smith’s legal team is making eleventh-hour appeals to federal judges, arguing that the proposed use of nitrogen and his previous trauma constitute cruel and unusual punishment. However, the impending execution date and scarce time for legal recourse have heightened the urgency of his situation.
As Smith grapples with the emotional turmoil of facing another execution attempt, he is faced with the agony of having to say goodbye to his loved ones once again. Despite the relentless ordeal he has endured, Smith implores for mercy, highlighting the absence of compassion in the justice system as he confronts the daunting reality of his situation.