Alabama executes prisoner Alan Miller in state's second-ever nitrogen-asphyxiation execution

Alabama on Thursday (Sept 26) executed convicted murderer Alan Millerin the second-ever nitrogen-asphyxiation execution since the US statepioneered the method which it says is less painful than lethal injections but human rights experts say it may amount to torture.

According to a report by the news agency Reuters,Millerpulled against restraints and gasped for breath for several minutes before dying. He was 65 at the time of his death.

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A botched attempt in 2022

Millerwas convicted for the 1999 murders of three men, including two co-workers, in a shooting spree at two offices in Pelham, Alabama. The victims were identified asLee Michael Holdbrooks, Terry Lee Jarvis and Christopher Scott Yancy.

Reuters reported that Alabamabotched an attempt to execute Miller by lethal injection in 2022.

On Thursday evening, the 65-year-oldwas taken into the execution chamber at theHolman Correctional Facility in Atmore.Pure nitrogen flowed through an industrial-safety respirator mask strapped to his face, suffocating him as it displaced oxygen.

In a statement,Alabama Governor Kay Ivey said that Millerwas pronounced dead at 6.38 pm local time.

'I didn't do anything to be in here'

A report by the news agency Associated Press said that Miller's final words were, "I didn't do anything to be in here."

The report said thatOnce the gassing began, Miller trembled on the gurney for about two minutes, at times pulling against the restraints. That was followed by about six minutes of periodic gasping breaths, the report added.

Alabama Department of Corrections Commissioner John Hamm told reporters afterwards that these were "involuntary body movements" and that the execution had gone as planned.

The first case in the state

The first case of execution bynitrogen-asphyxiation in Alabama was in January. The stateexecuted Kenneth Smith, also convicted of murder. Alabamapredicted that Smith would lose consciousness and suffocate within a few seconds of the nitrogen flowing through the mask.

However, Reuters reported that that it did not happen.Multiple witnesses, including Smith's family members,saw Smith heaving against his restraints and convulsing, and it appeared to take him several minutes to lose consciousness.

(With inputs from agencies)