The spiritual guide of Kenneth Eugene Smith – who was executed by nitrogen inhalation on Thursday in Alabama – described the historic execution as the “worst thing” he had ever seen, having previously witnessed five other executions.
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Jeff Hood was one of the few witnesses who were able to witness this execution which had been denounced for several weeks by the United Nations due to the inhalation of nitrogen, which had never been tested before and represented a form of “torture”.
The 58-year-old prisoner was put to death in an execution that lasted 22 minutes after a gas mask was placed over his face.
“When they turned the nitrogen on, he started convulsing, he jumped up on the gurney over and over again, he shook the whole gurney,” guide Jeff Hood told the Daily Mail.
Hood said prison officials were shocked that his death was much slower than they had expected.
“I could see the corrections officers, I think they were very surprised that it wasn’t going smoothly – one of the state officials in the room was so nervous her leg was tapping the floor,” he said. he told the media.
The spiritual guide said “lethal injection is better every day” after seeing Mr. Smith’s agony compared to other executions he has previously witnessed.
The prisoner’s partner was also present during his last moments and “screamed” when her husband “convulsed” on the stretcher, reported the Daily Mail.
In his suffering, Kenneth Eugene Smith managed to give a heartfelt gesture to his family and declared: “Tonight, Alabama takes humanity a step backwards… I leave with love, peace and friendship. I leave with love, peace and light.”
