.ON JANUARY 25TH Kenneth Eugene Smith became the 1st person anywhere to be executed through nitrogen hypoxia. He was convicted in 1989 of murdering Elizabeth Sennett, the better half of a minister coming from Alabama, on her hubby's orders. The state had 1st tried to execute him, by lethal shot, in Nov 2022, but bungled the procedure. After that, Mr Smith picked to become killed through unfamiliar methods. His execution has actually triggered outrage: Alabama declares nitrogen hypoxia is actually a simple, pain-free fatality yet lots of health care pros disagree. Some have actually likened it to torment. Why did Alabama authorise this untried approach?