.ON JANUARY 25TH Kenneth Eugene Smith became the first person anywhere to be put to death by nitrogen hypoxia. He was pronounced guilty in 1989 of slaughtering Elizabeth Sennett, the other half of a sermonizer coming from Alabama, on her spouse's orders. The state had first tried to execute him, by deadly shot, in Nov 2022, however mishandled the operation. After that, Mr Smith selected to be killed by novel methods. His execution has actually triggered resentment: Alabama states nitrogen hypoxia is actually an easy, painless death but numerous medical specialists differ. Some have compared it to abuse. Why did Alabama authorize this unproved method?