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The Story
Death row execution: Alabama's first suffocation
Jan 19, 2024
Alistair Dawber, Washington correspondent, The Times and The Sunday Times, joins the podcast to discuss Alabama's decision to execute death row inmate Kenneth Smith via nitrogen suffocation. Topics include the use of untested methods, the traumatic experience of families on death row, concerns for justice, challenging the method of execution, and reflections on Kenny Smith's potential execution.
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Quick takeaways
- Alabama plans to execute death row inmate Kenneth Smith using an untested method - nitrogen suffocation, raising concerns about its humaneness and safety.
- The case highlights the flaws and controversy surrounding the death penalty in the United States and the emotional toll it takes on the family of the condemned.
Deep dives
Kenneth Smith's botched execution and survival
Kenneth Eugene Smith, a 58-year-old man who has spent over 30 years on death row in the Holman Correctional Center in southern Alabama, survived a botched execution in November 2022. He was scheduled for execution on January 25th, with a new method involving the use of pure nitrogen to induce suffocation. Smith's lawyers have appealed, arguing that this method is cruel and unusual. While the state of Alabama claims it is a humane way to execute prisoners, it is worth noting that even veterinarians refuse to use nitrogen gas to euthanize animals. Smith's case has brought attention to the flaws and controversy surrounding the death penalty in the United States.
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