.ON JANUARY 25TH Kenneth Eugene Smith became the first person anywhere to become executed by nitrogen hypoxia. He was actually sentenced in 1989 of murdering Elizabeth Sennett, the wife of a sermonizer coming from Alabama, on her husband's orders. The state had first made an effort to execute him, through dangerous shot, in Nov 2022, but messed up the method. After that, Mr Johnson picked to become nailed to a cross by unfamiliar ways. His execution has resulted in outrage: Alabama claims nitrogen hypoxia is actually a simple, painless death yet several health care specialists differ. Some have likened it to abuse. Why did Alabama authorise this unproved technique?