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After SCOTUS Rejected His Final Appeal, Alabama Executes Man With Nitrogen Gas (truthout.org)

submitted 9 months ago by CaractacusPotts@lemmy.ca to c/politics@beehaw.org

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[–] Telorand@reddthat.com 21 points 9 months ago* (last edited 9 months ago) (10 children)

The state’s notoriously incompetent executioners, who tried and failed to kill Smith via lethal injection in 2022, strapped the condemned man to a gurney and administered the nitrogen gas through a full-face mask. Smith was pronounced dead shortly before 8:30 pm after around four minutes of convulsions.

Wow. Sounds very humane. /s

“Tonight, Alabama caused humanity to take a step backwards,” Smith said in his final statement. “I’m leaving with love, peace, and light. Thank you for supporting me, love all of you.”

RIP, dude. Sorry we as a society couldn't help you. May the people who glibly signed your death warrant get what they deserve.

[–] Bitrot@lemmy.sdf.org 19 points 9 months ago* (last edited 9 months ago) (9 children)

From one of the linked articles by a reporter in the room:

The gas appeared to start flowing at approximately 7:58 p.m. Smith visibly shook and writhed against the gurney for around two minutes. His arms thrashed against the restraints.

He breathed heavily, slightly gasping, for approximately seven more minutes. At one point, his wife cried out.

At 8:01 p.m., a correctional officer in the execution chamber leaned over Smith and examined his face, before stepping away and walking back to his post. Smith appeared to stop breathing at 8:08 p.m.

I've experienced hypoxia and found it very comfortable, if I had to choose a way to go there would be it, but that was at a high altitude and my brain had no idea what was happening (later edit: done properly with no carbon dioxide buildup, the brain should be unaware with nitrogen too - I suspect their untested mask was shit). This sounds barbaric.

[–] Teotwawki@lemmy.ml 7 points 9 months ago* (last edited 9 months ago)

I was a researcher for around twenty years and almost passed out leaning over an LN2 tank like an idiot looking for my samples once. No pain, just felt some tingling and rapidly fading consciousness. There was still a good amount of oxygen in the room since the alarms never went off. Just glad I started to fall backwards instead of into the tank.

I've also experienced nitrogen narcosis while deep diving, and that actually felt good.

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