An Alabama death row inmate is expected to become the first person in the US to be executed with nitrogen gas, after losing last-minute appeals.

The US Supreme Court and a lower appeals court declined to block what Kenneth Eugene Smith’s lawyers called a “cruel and unusual” punishment.

Opponents say using nitrogen could cause unnecessary suffering, and a leak could harm people present in the room.

Smith, 58, was convicted in 1989 of murdering Elizabeth Sennett.

Alabama has 30 hours to carry out the execution, which involves pumping nitrogen gas through a mask, from Thursday at 0600 GMT (0100 ET).

  • ironhydroxide
    link
    fedilink
    English
    arrow-up
    13
    arrow-down
    1
    ·
    1 年前

    Free housing and food for the last 35 years adds up to a lot more than the $2500.

    • otp
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      9
      arrow-down
      1
      ·
      1 年前

      Free housing and food for the last 35 years

      What, are you interested in moving in?

      • ironhydroxide
        link
        fedilink
        English
        arrow-up
        3
        ·
        1 年前

        It’s becoming an increasing attractive option considering how increasing costs for housing and food are massively outstripping increases in pay.

        • girlfreddy@lemmy.ca
          link
          fedilink
          arrow-up
          8
          ·
          1 年前

          Having been there and done that, I’d prefer just to live on the streets again instead.

          (Reason being it was h a r d to look through bars on every window and know I couldn’t just step outside.)

        • ZephyrXero@lemmy.world
          link
          fedilink
          English
          arrow-up
          6
          ·
          1 年前

          Ya know many inmates are forced to do labor that is contracted out to companies, and you get paid literally pennies an hour in return. It’s not always just sitting there behind bars

          • ironhydroxide
            link
            fedilink
            English
            arrow-up
            1
            ·
            1 年前

            Wage slave, or state slave, in the end it’ll be the same thing.