31 January 2024 :
January 26, 2024 - Kenneth Eugene Smith’s execution by nitrogen hypoxia is ‘historic’ achievement for Alabama: Steve Marshall, Attorney General.
Witness describes final moments of Alabama prisoner Kenneth Smith killed with nitrogen gas
“Alabama has achieved something historic. Like most states, Alabama has made the judgment that some crimes are so horrific that they warrant the ultimate penalty,” Attorney General Steve Marshall said in a statement shortly after Smith was executed by nitrogen hypoxia Thursday night for the murder-for-hire of Elizabeth Dorlene Sennett in 1988.
Marshall then claimed the execution was implemented without problems, proving wrong the anti-death-penalty advocates who asserted nitrogen hypoxia was dangerous because and inhumane.
Meanwhile, media witnesses said they saw Smith struggle as the gas began flowing into the mask that covered his entire face. He began writhing and thrashing for approximately 2 to 4 minutes, followed by around 5 minutes of heavy breathing.
Anti-death-penalty activists, Marshall said, “have worked to nullify Alabama’s moral judgment through pressure campaigns against anyone assisting states in the process.
“They don’t care that Alabama’s new method is humane and effective, because they know it is also easy to carry out,” he said. Despite the international effort by activists to undermine and disparage our state’s justice system and to deny justice to the victims of heinous murders, our proven method offers a blueprint for other states and a warning to those who would contemplate shedding innocent blood. This is an important night for Liz Sennett’s family, for justice, and for the rule of law in our great nation.”
Smith’s lawyers unsuccessfully asked for a stay of execution by the U.S. Supreme Court, which also denied a review of the case, allowing the execution to proceed.
Marshall said the execution showed “that the dire predictions of activists and the media were as speculative as Smith’s claims.”
Kenneth Smith’s execution ‘bittersweet’ for Elizabeth Sennett’s family: ‘Nothing happened ... to bring her back’
The family of Elizabeth Sennett said it was “bittersweet” when one of her killers was executed Thursday night by the state of Alabama.
“Nothing happened here today that’s going to bring Mom back,” Sennett’s son, Mike Sennett, told reporters following the execution of Kenneth Eugene Smith by nitrogen hypoxia at William C. Holman Correctional Facility in Atmore.
“It’s kind of a bittersweet day. We’re not going to be jumping around, hootin’ and hollering ‘hooray’ and all that, that’s not us,” Mike Sennett said. “We’re glad this day is over.”
Smith became the 1st death row inmate in the country to be executed by nitrogen hypoxia, which involved fitting a mask over Smith’s head and pumping nitrogen gas into the device.
Smith had been on death row more than 3 decades for participating in the murder-for-hire plot of Elizabeth Dorlene Sennett in her home in Colbert County in 1988. Sennett was a pastor’s wife who was beaten and stabbed. Smith confessed to his role in the crime after the slaying, and court records show he was paid about $1,000 for killing Elizabeth Sennett.
Mike Sennett, who spoke on behalf of his entire family, suggested Smith’s execution was justifiable.
“The Bible says evil deeds have consequences — and Kenneth Smith made some bad decisions 35 years ago — and his debt was paid tonight,” he said.
“Some of you may have heard us talk about over and over about 35 years, 35 years,” he continued.
“Elizabeth Dorlene Thorne Sennett got her justice tonight.”
It should be remembered that if Smith was one of the two perpetrators of Mrs Sennett's murder, the "instigator" was Charles Sennett, a minister of the Church of Christ who took his own life after suspicions fell on him. It seems that the man was having a new relationship, and he thought of having his wife killed to pocket her life insurance. The Sennetts' son, therefore, fills the difficult role of relative of the victim, but also relative of the culprit. (Ed.)
