Strong criticism of nitrogen performance: it was a 22-minute ‘horror show’

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22 minutes to death. That’s how long it took to execute Kenneth Eugene Smith, the first person in the United States to be executed with nitrogen. Trial observers report gruesome scenes in the death chamber.

At 4 p.m., Smith said goodbye to his family members for the last time, they stood in a circle, hand in hand, trial observer Lee Hedgepeth reported to the Daily Mail. Finally, Smith hugged each family member again and was eventually led by his mother to the guards, who handcuffed him and prepared him for execution.

“I love you all”

Hedgepeth reports that Smith was strapped to a stretcher with the mask already on his face when the curtain opened to spectators at 7:53 p.m. It covered his entire face, from forehead to chin. The brand name of the mask was covered with black tape.

Smith smiled at his family with a silver cross around his neck and was allowed to say his last words: “Tonight in Alabama, humanity takes a step back.” And to his family: “I leave with love, peace and light. Thank you for supporting me. I love you all.”

Finally the nitrogen supply began – and after a few minutes Smith’s violent reaction began, as the observer describes. He writes: “I would describe the ordeal as the most brutal execution I have ever seen.”

‘Smith seemed to suffocate in the mask’

Smith’s entire body and head jerked back and forth as he secured himself to the stretcher’s straps. Smith appeared to be coughing and choking on the mask. Every time he gasped, his body heaved against the restraints.”

His movements slowly became weaker. A bailiff leaned over him for a moment to look him in the face. Finally, Smith tried to breathe again and then stopped moving.

He lay motionless on the stretcher for another ten minutes. The curtains were drawn and the time of death was announced as 8:25 p.m. Smith’s spiritual advisor, the Rev. Jeff Hood, told the New York Post it was a “horror show.”

“It was just terrible”

Even the bailiffs could not have hidden this. “You could clearly see shock and surprise on their faces.” It was always said that the method of execution would be short and painless. This was clearly not the case.

“It was just terrible. This is a scene I will never forget.” His cramps looked like something out of a Hollywood movie.

Hood continues, “If I had been brought in there without being told I was attending an execution, I would have thought I was on a movie set, some kind of gruesome creation run amok.” (neo)

Source: Blick