An Alabama man, Anthony Boyd, was executed by nitrogen gas on Thursday (October 23) evening after the US Supreme Court allowed the controversial method to proceed. Boyd, 54, had been convicted of aiding in the horrific 1993 murder of Gregory Huguley, who was burned alive. In his final statement, Boyd denied involvement in the murder, claiming his innocence. "I didn’t kill anybody. I didn’t participate in killing anybody," he was quoted as saying to The Associated Press. Boyd’s execution occurred at the William C Holman Correctional Facility, where he was strapped to a gurney and forced to breathe nitrogen, depriving his body of oxygen and causing suffocation. He was pronounced dead at 6:33pm.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/-us-is-our-enemy-putin-medvedev-slam-trump-after-new-us-sanctions-vow-russia-will-never-bow-to-pressure-1761267942499">'US is our enemy': Putin, Medvedev slam Trump after new US sanctions, vow Russia will 'never bow to pressure'</a>&nbsp;The method, nitrogen hypoxia, has become a controversial alternative to lethal injection, which has become harder to carry out due to shortages of the necessary drugs. The Supreme Court's conservative majority denied Boyd's petition for a stay of execution, with liberal justices dissenting. Justice Sonia Sotomayor expressed strong opposition, comparing Boyd’s suffering to prolonged suffocation. This marks the eighth use of nitrogen as an execution method, following Alabama's experimental use of it on Kenny Smith in 2024. Witnesses to Smith's execution reported his convulsions and violent movements. Other executions using nitrogen have similarly raised concerns, with one man continuing to breathe for several minutes after being exposed to the gas.&nbsp;Boyd’s defense team argued that the nitrogen method constitutes cruel and unusual punishment, violating the Eighth Amendment. However, the federal judge overseeing the case dismissed this claim, saying that the Constitution does not guarantee a painless death. Boyd had been convicted based on testimony from an eyewitness and no physical evidence linking him to the crime. His death sentence was imposed despite a non-unanimous jury verdict, as Alabama and Florida are the only states where such sentences can be handed down without full jury consensus.

Anthony Boyd, convicted of murder, was executed by nitrogen gas in Alabama, despite legal challenges and opposition to the method's safety and humanity

An Alabama man, Anthony Boyd, was executed by nitrogen gas on Thursday (October 23) evening after the US Supreme Court allowed the controversial method to proceed. Boyd, 54, had been convicted of aiding in the horrific 1993 murder of Gregory Huguley, who was burned alive. In his final statement, Boyd denied involvement in the murder, claiming his innocence. "I didn’t kill anybody. I didn’t participate in killing anybody," he was quoted as saying to The Associated Press. Boyd’s execution occurred at the William C Holman Correctional Facility, where he was strapped to a gurney and forced to breathe nitrogen, depriving his body of oxygen and causing suffocation. He was pronounced dead at 6:33pm. Also Read: 'US is our enemy': Putin, Medvedev slam Trump after new US sanctions, vow Russia will 'never bow to pressure' The method, nitrogen hypoxia, has become a controversial alternative to lethal injection, which has become harder to carry out due to shortages of the necessary drugs. The Supreme Court's conservative majority denied Boyd's petition for a stay of execution, with liberal justices dissenting. Justice Sonia Sotomayor expressed strong opposition, comparing Boyd’s suffering to prolonged suffocation. This marks the eighth use of nitrogen as an execution method, following Alabama's experimental use of it on Kenny Smith in 2024. Witnesses to Smith's execution reported his convulsions and violent movements. Other executions using nitrogen have similarly raised concerns, with one man continuing to breathe for several minutes after being exposed to the gas. Boyd’s defense team argued that the nitrogen method constitutes cruel and unusual punishment, violating the Eighth Amendment. However, the federal judge overseeing the case dismissed this claim, saying that the Constitution does not guarantee a painless death. Boyd had been convicted based on testimony from an eyewitness and no physical evidence linking him to the crime. His death sentence was imposed despite a non-unanimous jury verdict, as Alabama and Florida are the only states where such sentences can be handed down without full jury consensus.

Anthony Boyd, convicted of murder, was executed by nitrogen gas in Alabama, despite legal challenges and opposition to the method's safety and humanity

'I didn’t kill anybody’: Alabama man’s last words before execution by nitrogen gas for 1993 murder amid legal challenges

Trigger warning: Some readers may find details of this report disturbing. Discretion is advised.&nbsp;

A witness who saw the nitrogen gas execution of 58-year-old Kenneth Eugene Smith, while speaking to the Daily Mail, spoke about how the Alabama inmate wriggled in pain when he was suffocated to death. 
 
Smith was taken to the execution chamber located at the William C. Holman prison in Atmore and was given a tight mask to wear on his face. 
 
Speaking about the moment when the convict was executed, spiritual guide Jeff Hood said that it was the “worst thing” he had ever witnessed in his life. 
 
He added that even prison officials were left horrified seeing Smith withering in pain for almost 22 minutes before dying. “When they turned the nitrogen on, he began to convulse, he popped up on the gurney over and over again, he shook the whole gurney,” said Hood.

"I mean, it really was like watching someone put a plastic bag over someone's head and just to see what happens, and holding it as tight as they can, as long as they can, to watch the person resist and shake," said&nbsp;Hood, while speaking to&nbsp;NBC News.

"They repeatedly said that he would not be able to resist the nitrogen, and would be unconscious within seconds. And then he looks like a fish out of water," he said

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-alabama-faces-criticism-from-world-over-cruel-nitrogen-execution-683957">US: Alabama faces criticism from world over 'cruel' nitrogen execution</a>

At one given point, the convict struggled against his restraints as his wife Deanna shed tears seeing his condition from the witness box. 
 
The man spoke his last words through the gas mask after he made a heart sign using his left hand for his family members. “Tonight Alabama causes humanity to take a step backwards... I’m leaving with love, peace and light,” Smith said, as reported by the Daily Mail.

<h2 lang="en-US">‘Unbelievable evil was unleashed': Smith's pastor John Ewell</h2>

Meanwhile, Smith's pastor John Ewell said that the convicted killer was “really struggling” with the thoughts of how he would be executed. As per the officials, the man hardly ate anything from his final meal, which was hash browns, T-bone steak, eggs and A1 Sauce from Waffle House. 
 
Hood added that the contraption which was used for executing Smith appeared like a firefighter mask.

&nbsp;“I could see the corrections officers, I think they were very surprised that this didn't go smoothly - one of the state officials in the room was so nervous she was tap dancing,” he added while speaking to the Daily Mail.

Watch:&nbsp;Alabama to carry out first Nitrogen gas execution

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“(Smith) kept breathing for what could possibly be up to nine minutes, ten minutes, unbelievable evil was unleashed tonight in Alabama,” he said, adding that since he had witnessed five executions previously, he thinks that “lethal injection is preferable every single day.” 
 
Meanwhile, Alabama officials have called the nitrogen hypoxia method an “effective and humane method of execution.” 
 
The court had given a death sentence to Kenneth Eugene Smith in 1996 for a 1988 murder and he was&nbsp; pronounced dead at 8:25 pm (0225 GMT Friday), as per local media, which cited southern state Governor Kay Ivey's statement.

(With inputs from agencies)

Trigger warning: Some readers may find details of this report disturbing. Discretion is advised. A witness who saw the nitrogen gas execution of 58-year-old Kenneth Eugene Smith, while speaking to the Daily Mail, spoke about how the Alabama inmate wriggled in pain when he was suffocated to death.

Trigger warning: Some readers may find details of this report disturbing. Discretion is advised. A witness who saw the nitrogen gas execution of 58-year-old Kenneth Eugene Smith, while speaking to the Daily Mail, spoke about how the Alabama inmate wriggled in pain when he was suffocated to death. Smith was taken to the execution chamber located at the William C. Holman prison in Atmore and was given a tight mask to wear on his face. Speaking about the moment when the convict was executed, spiritual guide Jeff Hood said that it was the “worst thing” he had ever witnessed in his life. He added that even prison officials were left horrified seeing Smith withering in pain for almost 22 minutes before dying. “When they turned the nitrogen on, he began to convulse, he popped up on the gurney over and over again, he shook the whole gurney,” said Hood. "I mean, it really was like watching someone put a plastic bag over someone's head and just to see what happens, and holding it as tight as they can, as long as they can, to watch the person resist and shake," said Hood, while speaking to NBC News. "They repeatedly said that he would not be able to resist the nitrogen, and would be unconscious within seconds. And then he looks like a fish out of water," he said Also read: US: Alabama faces criticism from world over 'cruel' nitrogen execution At one given point, the convict struggled against his restraints as his wife Deanna shed tears seeing his condition from the witness box. The man spoke his last words through the gas mask after he made a heart sign using his left hand for his family members. “Tonight Alabama causes humanity to take a step backwards... I’m leaving with love, peace and light,” Smith said, as reported by the Daily Mail. ‘Unbelievable evil was unleashed': Smith's pastor John Ewell Meanwhile, Smith's pastor John Ewell said that the convicted killer was “really struggling” with the thoughts of how he would be executed. As per the officials, the man hardly ate anything from his final meal, which was hash browns, T-bone steak, eggs and A1 Sauce from Waffle House. Hood added that the contraption which was used for executing Smith appeared like a firefighter mask. “I could see the corrections officers, I think they were very surprised that this didn't go smoothly - one of the state officials in the room was so nervous she was tap dancing,” he added while speaking to the Daily Mail. Watch: Alabama to carry out first Nitrogen gas execution “(Smith) kept breathing for what could possibly be up to nine minutes, ten minutes, unbelievable evil was unleashed tonight in Alabama,” he said, adding that since he had witnessed five executions previously, he thinks that “lethal injection is preferable every single day.” Meanwhile, Alabama officials have called the nitrogen hypoxia method an “effective and humane method of execution.” The court had given a death sentence to Kenneth Eugene Smith in 1996 for a 1988 murder and he was pronounced dead at 8:25 pm (0225 GMT Friday), as per local media, which cited southern state Governor Kay Ivey's statement. (With inputs from agencies)

TRIGGER WARNING | Alabama execution: Witness says Smith struggled like 'fish out of water'

The convicted murderer Kenneth Eugene Smith became the first man in the United States to be executed using nitrogen gas. The execution, which took place at Alabama's Holman Prison, deviated from the traditional lethal injection method and sparked condemnation from human rights activists, and the United Nations.

Now it has emerged that dozens of death row prisoners in Alabama may soon face the nitrogen gas route for their execution.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-alabama-makes-history-with-first-execution-using-nitrogen-gas-683713">Alabama death row inmate Kenneth Smith executed with nitrogen gas, in a first for US</a>

The 58-year-old Smith, who spent over three decades on death row for the 1988 murder-for-hire of a pastor's wife, faced a 22-minute execution that drew criticism for its apparent brutality.&nbsp;

Witnesses, including his spiritual adviser Reverend Jeff Hood, described the scene as a 'horror show'.&nbsp;Hood said that even prison staff couldn't conceal their shock at the distressing display, with audible gasps from onlookers as Smith struggled to breathe.

<h2>Nitrogen gas execution: Dozens of&nbsp;death row prisoners may follow the route</h2>

According to Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall, what happened with Kenneth Eugene Smith "was textbook" form of execution when done with Nitrogen gas.

“As of last night, nitrogen hypoxia as a means of execution is no longer an untested method. It is a proven one. It’s the method that Kenneth Smith ultimately chose, along with 43 other death row inmates in our state,” Marshall was quoted as saying by CNN.

"I now suspect many states will follow."

The attorney general in a purported message to other US states, said: "Alabama has done it, and now so can you," Marshall said. "And we stand ready to assist you in implementing this method in your states."

<h2>US nitrogen gas execution: What happened?</h2>

Reverend Hood recounted the prison authorities' assurances that the nitrogen hypoxia execution would be nearly instantaneous, quick, easy, and painless.&nbsp;

But&nbsp;the reality unfolded quite differently. "What we saw last night was minutes, minutes, and minutes of a horror show," Hood was quoted as saying by the New York Post.

Also watch |&nbsp;US: Alabama, third US state to authorise use of nitrogen for execution

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Smith's contorted movements during the execution were likened to a "fish out of water, flapping over and over again," creating a lasting impact on those who witnessed the event.

The White House expressed deep concern over the execution, stating it was "deeply troubled" by the unfolding events.&nbsp;

UN human rights chief Volker Turk, the European Union, and various civil liberties groups also raised alarms about the method employed in Smith's execution, referring to it as an "untested human experiment."

The nitrogen hypoxia execution marks a significant departure from the conventional lethal injection method, forcing the prisoner to breathe nitrogen instead of oxygen through a respirator mask.&nbsp;

<h2>What is the bottomline?</h2>

The international community's condemnation suggests that the execution method will likely face further scrutiny, reigniting the ongoing debate surrounding the ethics of capital punishment in the United States.

(With inputs from agencies)

The convicted murderer Kenneth Eugene Smith became the first man in the United States to be executed using nitrogen gas. The execution, which took place at Alabama's Holman Prison, deviated from the traditional lethal injection method and sparked condemnation from human rights activists, and the United Nations.

The convicted murderer Kenneth Eugene Smith became the first man in the United States to be executed using nitrogen gas. The execution, which took place at Alabama's Holman Prison, deviated from the traditional lethal injection method and sparked condemnation from human rights activists, and the United Nations. Now it has emerged that dozens of death row prisoners in Alabama may soon face the nitrogen gas route for their execution. Also read | Alabama death row inmate Kenneth Smith executed with nitrogen gas, in a first for US The 58-year-old Smith, who spent over three decades on death row for the 1988 murder-for-hire of a pastor's wife, faced a 22-minute execution that drew criticism for its apparent brutality. Witnesses, including his spiritual adviser Reverend Jeff Hood, described the scene as a 'horror show'. Hood said that even prison staff couldn't conceal their shock at the distressing display, with audible gasps from onlookers as Smith struggled to breathe. Nitrogen gas execution: Dozens of death row prisoners may follow the route According to Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall, what happened with Kenneth Eugene Smith "was textbook" form of execution when done with Nitrogen gas. “As of last night, nitrogen hypoxia as a means of execution is no longer an untested method. It is a proven one. It’s the method that Kenneth Smith ultimately chose, along with 43 other death row inmates in our state,” Marshall was quoted as saying by CNN. "I now suspect many states will follow." The attorney general in a purported message to other US states, said: "Alabama has done it, and now so can you," Marshall said. "And we stand ready to assist you in implementing this method in your states." US nitrogen gas execution: What happened? Reverend Hood recounted the prison authorities' assurances that the nitrogen hypoxia execution would be nearly instantaneous, quick, easy, and painless. But the reality unfolded quite differently. "What we saw last night was minutes, minutes, and minutes of a horror show," Hood was quoted as saying by the New York Post. Also watch | US: Alabama, third US state to authorise use of nitrogen for execution × Smith's contorted movements during the execution were likened to a "fish out of water, flapping over and over again," creating a lasting impact on those who witnessed the event. The White House expressed deep concern over the execution, stating it was "deeply troubled" by the unfolding events. UN human rights chief Volker Turk, the European Union, and various civil liberties groups also raised alarms about the method employed in Smith's execution, referring to it as an "untested human experiment." The nitrogen hypoxia execution marks a significant departure from the conventional lethal injection method, forcing the prisoner to breathe nitrogen instead of oxygen through a respirator mask. What is the bottomline? The international community's condemnation suggests that the execution method will likely face further scrutiny, reigniting the ongoing debate surrounding the ethics of capital punishment in the United States. (With inputs from agencies)

Alabama Nitrogen Gas execution: More states to follow lethal route for death sentence