Kenneth Eugene Smith (58) was executed for the contract murder of a woman.

DLNews Law & Order:

In a spine-chilling turn of events that's got the whole world talking, Alabama's execution chambers turned into a scene of unspeakable horror last Thursday. The state made a controversial move by executing convicted hitman 58-year-old Kenneth Eugene Smith, using a method straight out of a dystopian nightmare: nitrogen hypoxia. This chilling execution method, never before used on a human, has sparked outrage and horror across the globe.

In 1988, Smith was contracted by a pastor to assassinate his wife, for which he was paid $1,000. Smith's associate in the crime was previously executed through lethal injection. The pastor, who had orchestrated the murder, subsequently took his own life. Smith's execution, however, sparked significant controversy and public outcry among human rights activists. Deviating from the conventional method of lethal injection, Smith endured a 22-minute execution involving the inhalation of pure nitrogen. This method, causing slow suffocation due to oxygen deprivation, led to a prolonged and distressing ordeal.

Witnesses report that for two excruciating minutes, Smith writhed in agony on the lounger, gasping for air. His heavy breathing continued for several more minutes before he was finally pronounced dead at 8:25 p.m. His final words, echoing in the chamber, were a haunting condemnation of Alabama's justice system: “Tonight, Alabama is causing humanity to take a step backward... I leave with love, peace, and light.”

The decision to use this untested and potentially torturous method has been slammed by human rights groups and United Nations experts, who argue there's no evidence to suggest this form of execution is pain-free. Alabama, on the other hand, defended its decision, claiming it to be more humane than a lethal injection – a method that failed miserably in Smith's case last year, leading to a harrowing, hours-long ordeal.

All legal attempts to save Smith from this fate were in vain, as the Supreme Court ultimately gave the go-ahead for this macabre method. Smith's demise marks a dark chapter in Alabama's history, leaving a stain of barbarity and a question mark on humanity's progress in the 21st century.