UN Human Rights Chief Regrets Execution Of Death Penalty With Nitrogen Gas In The United States

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk. (Twitter/@volker_turk)

JAKARTA - The head of human rights of the United Nations on Friday condemned the death penalty using nitrogen gas against a detainee in Alabama, United States, saying the method could be considered torture.

The execution penalty using nitrogen gas, the first since the death penalty with injections began in Uncle Sam's country four decades ago, was served by Kenneth Smith, 58, who was convicted of murder in 1988, on Thursday.

"I deeply regret the execution of Kenneth Eugene Smith in Alabama, although there are serious concerns that the new, untested nitrogen gas method may constitute torture, or cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment," UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk said. January 26.

"The death penalty is not in line with the basic right to life. I urge all countries to implement the moratorium on its application, as a step towards universal elimination," he continued.

Quoting Anadolu, Smith underwent execution using the nitrogen hypoxia method, in which nitrogen was given through masks to death due to lack of oxygen. Smith was pronounced dead at 20.25 local time.

"Finally, Mr. Smith got what he asked for, and this case was finally resolved," Alabama Governor Kay Ivey said in a statement.

"The execution is carried out legally with nitrogen hypoxia, a method previously requested by Mr. Smith as an alternative to lethal injections," he explained.

Ivey made the final decision not to clemency Smith, after the US Supreme Court refused to intervene 24 hours earlier. Smith's lawyers appealed by saying the nitrogen gas method was a cruel and unusual punishment, but the high court disagreed.

"Tonight Alabama is causing humanity to take a step back," Smith said before he was given nitrogen gas.

"I go with love, peace and light. Thank you for supporting me. Love you all," he continued.

Smith's execution came 14 months after the failure of a lethal injection against him in November 2022, in which officers were unable to install an IV before the execution warrant ended.

Smith became the second person in US history to face a second execution after a failed first attempt. The last time this happened was in 1946 in the State of Louisiana, after a power seat crash.

Smith has been on the death penalty for more than three decades, after a plot of murder in 1988 against Elizabeth Sennett, 45, who was stabbed and beaten to death.

Sennett's husband, Charles, hired Smith and two other people in exchange for $1,000 each to kill his wife, making him look like a robbery, according to court records.

Charles Sennett committed suicide a week after the murder, after authorities linked him to their investigation. Smith was later arrested for his role in the murder plot.

"It's a bitter and sweet day," said Mike Sennett, Elizabeth Sennett's son, during a press conference following Smith's execution.

"We're not going to jump around. But we're glad it's over today," he said.

"Kenneth Smith made some bad decisions 35 years ago, and his debt paid off tonight," he added.

"I think I will end by saying that Elizabeth Dorlene Sennett got her justice tonight," he concluded.