In a chilling moment that has sparked controversy worldwide, Kenneth Smith, a convicted murderer, was executed on January 25, 2024, by an untested method that many are calling cruel and inhumane.

The execution took place at the Holman Correctional Facility in Alabama, marking the third use of nitrogen hypoxia in U.S. history—an execution method now at the center of heated debate.

Smith, 58, was sentenced to death for his role in the 1988 murder-for-hire of Elizabeth Dorlene Sennett, a crime he committed alongside John Forrest Parker. Sennett was stabbed 10 times in her Alabama home, and her death shocked the local community.

Smith’s execution comes after decades on death row and a previous failed attempt in 2022, when executioners were unable to establish an intravenous line for lethal injection before his death warrant expired.

As Smith lay strapped to the gurney, he became the third individual to face death by nitrogen gas—an experimental execution method that has drawn widespread condemnation. The gas, which makes up 78 percent of Earth’s atmosphere, is said to induce death by asphyxiation, depriving the brain of oxygen.

However, there are serious concerns about its humanity and effectiveness.

The State of Alabama has defended the method, claiming it is “perhaps the most humane” execution procedure ever devised. However, eyewitness accounts from reporters present in the death chamber paint a disturbing picture.

Marty Roney, a journalist with the Montgomery Advertiser, described Smith as “writhed and convulsed on the gurney” with his “eyes rolling in the back of his head” and his body “shaking violently.” Roney went on to report that Smith’s fists clenched and his legs shook uncontrollably.

He appeared to struggle for breath, with the gurney shaking several times before he was pronounced dead 22 minutes after the process began.

In his final words, Smith condemned the state’s actions. “Tonight Alabama causes humanity to take a step backwards,” he said, his voice calm yet defiant.

He expressed peace with his fate, adding, “I’m leaving with love, peace and light,” and made the “I love you” gesture to family members who watched from behind the glass. “Thank you for supporting me. Love, love all of you,” he said, his final moments captured on film and in the memories of those present.

Yet, experts have questioned the safety and humanity of nitrogen hypoxia. Dr. Joel Zivot, an associate professor of anesthesiology at Emory University, cautioned that nitrogen execution could trigger a seizure or cause the inmate to vomit, choking to death instead of peacefully passing.

“It’s an untested, risky procedure that could lead to agonizing suffering,” Zivot warned.

The international community has also weighed in.

The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights voiced strong opposition to nitrogen executions, condemning them as a form of torture. The UN’s position echoes concerns raised by medical professionals and civil rights groups, who argue that the method violates human dignity and could amount to cruel and unusual punishment.

The Alabama Supreme Court denied Smith’s appeal to halt the execution, with the U.S. Supreme Court also refusing to intervene. Legal challenges against nitrogen hypoxia are expected to intensify, particularly as this execution raises serious ethical and medical questions.

The use of nitrogen as a death penalty method is still unproven in any real-world scenario, leaving many to question whether this procedure is a step into uncharted and dangerous territory.

As the world grapples with the aftermath of Smith’s execution, one thing is clear: the debate over the ethics and effectiveness of nitrogen hypoxia is far from over.

And the question remains—did Alabama take a step forward in humanity, or is this method an irreversible step backward?