Kenneth Eugene Smith was convicted for the 1988 murder-for-hire of Elizabeth Dorlene Sennett in Colbert County, Alabama. Charles Sennett Sr., Elizabeth’s husband, orchestrated the murder, hiring Billy Gray Williams, who in turn recruited Smith and John Forrest Parker for the heinous act. The investigation revealed Smith’s involvement, leading to his arrest and conviction.

Legal Proceedings

Smith’s first trial concluded with a jury recommending the death sentence, which was upheld despite appeals. His second trial also ended with a death sentence, overriding the jury’s life sentence recommendation. John Forrest Parker, a co-conspirator, was executed in 2010, while Smith faced a botched lethal injection in November 2022. The execution was halted due to complications in establishing an IV line.

What is Nitrogen Hypoxia Execution?

Introduction of a New Method

In response to the botched execution, Smith is now scheduled for execution on January 25, 2024, by nitrogen hypoxia. This method involves inhaling nitrogen gas, leading to suffocation. A federal judge has ruled that Alabama can proceed with this execution method, marking Smith as potentially the first person to be executed this way in the United States.

This method is seen as experimental, with concerns raised about its potential for causing panic, vomiting, seizures, or coma. The Marshall Project, a criminal justice journalism organization, notes that tests on animals have shown adverse reactions to nitrogen exposure.

There are significant questions about whether this method can be administered humanely and effectively, as it has never been used before for capital punishment.