.ON JANUARY 25TH Kenneth Eugene Johnson became the very first individual anywhere to be put to death by nitrogen hypoxia. He was actually sentenced in 1989 of killing Elizabeth Sennett, the partner of a preacher coming from Alabama, on her partner’s orders. The state had first made an effort to execute him, by fatal treatment, in November 2022, however messed up the operation.
After that, Mr Johnson selected to become killed by unfamiliar methods. His execution has triggered indignation: Alabama professes nitrogen hypoxia is actually an easy, painless death but several clinical pros differ. Some have compared it to abuse.
Why did Alabama authorise this untested method?