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
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    128 months ago

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

    • @otp
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      88 months ago

      Free housing and food for the last 35 years

      What, are you interested in moving in?

      • @ironhydroxide
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        38 months ago

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

        • @[email protected]
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          88 months ago

          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
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          68 months ago

          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
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            18 months ago

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