Alabama’s death penalty depends on darkness

  Back on the morning of Jan. 26, Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall praised the state’s prison officials for a “textbook” nitrogen gas execution.

  “The [Alabama Department of Corrections] deserve a great deal of thanks and credit for being willing to be the one to step up, first in the country to do so,” Marshall said, adding that he suspected “many states will follow.”

  This is what happened. Kenneth Eugene Smith convulsed for two minutes and gasped for at least seven more as he choked to death.

The last execution

  One day Alabama will conduct its final execution.

  The witnesses present won’t know that, of course. If capital punishment disappears, it will be by law or ruling that comes after these men and women gather in the small, tomb-like room at Atmore Correctional Facility.