Kenneth Eugene Smith is an American criminal who was convicted of the murder of Elizabeth Sennett in a murder-for-hire plot in Colbert County, Alabama.
He was sentenced to death in 1996 for the 1988 murder.
Smith’s execution by nitrogen asphyxia is set to take place within a 30-hour window beginning on Thursday, January 25, 2024, making him the first person in the world to be put to death using this method.
His legal team has made last-ditch efforts to halt his execution, but both the US Supreme Court and a federal appeals court have refused to do so.
Smith’s case has stirred ethical controversy due to the use of the untested method of nitrogen hypoxia for his execution, which his lawyers and experts have decried as cruel and experimental.
Kenneth Eugene Smith age, height and weight
Smith, the criminal, was born on July 4, 1965, making him 58 years old as of January 2024.
His height is 1.91 meters (6 ft 3 in) and his weight is 77 kg (170 lbs).
Kenneth Eugene Smith ethnicity and nationality
While Smith’s ethnicity remains unknown, his nationality is American, as he was born in the United States.
Kenneth Eugene Smith parents
Unfortunately, at the time of publishing this article, there is no available information about Smith’s parents.
Kenneth Eugene Smith wife and children
Smith’s wife’s name is not available in the media.
However, it is known that he married a girl he met during his high school years.
Smith is reported to have four children with his wife, although he was unable to spend substantial time with them since 1988 due to his incarceration.
Elizabeth Sennett murder
Elizabeth was the victim of a murder-for-hire plot in Colbert County, Alabama.
She was the wife of Charles Sennett, a Church of Christ pastor.
On March 18, 1988, Elizabeth was found dead in her home, having been brutally attacked.
She had been stabbed multiple times and beaten with a fireplace implement.
The investigation revealed that her husband had orchestrated the murder in a bid to collect insurance money, as he was allegedly deeply in debt and involved in an extramarital affair.
The murder was initially staged to look like a home invasion and burglary.
The case unfolded with the revelation of a murder-for-hire scheme, in which Smith and another man were paid $1,000 each to kill Elizabeth on behalf of her husband.
Smith’s accomplice, John Forrest Parker, was also involved in the crime and was executed in 2010.
Charles, the mastermind behind the plot, committed suicide after law enforcement began suspecting his involvement in the murder.
The details of the murder-for-hire plot and the subsequent tragic events have drawn significant attention and raised ethical and legal concerns.
The case has been marked by its harrowing nature and the shocking betrayal within the Sennett family, ultimately leading to devastating consequences for Elizabeth and those involved in her murder.
The first new execution method since 1982 is due to be used on death row today.
And the UN has said it could amount to ‘torture'.
Kenneth Eugene Smith is due to be killed by nitrogen hypoxia, where the gas is pumped through a mask until he dies from lack of oxygen. pic.twitter.com/XRJEv4WRaN
— Metro (@MetroUK) January 25, 2024
Kenneth Eugene Smith trial and sentencing
Smith was convicted of the murder of Elizabeth in a murder-for-hire plot in Colbert County, Alabama.
He was initially convicted in 1989, and a jury voted 10-2 to recommend a death sentence.
However, his conviction and sentence were later overturned on appeal.
In a subsequent trial, a jury voted 11-1 to sentence him to life without parole, but a judge overruled the jury and handed him the death penalty.
In November 2022, Smith survived a botched execution attempt when he was punctured with needles for nearly four hours.
The execution was called off as prison employees were unable to set an IV line into his veins.
Smith’s legal team has been involved in legal battles, including filing a lawsuit against the state to block his upcoming execution and seeking a review of the constitutionality of Alabama’s death penalty sentencing scheme.
Kenneth Eugene Smith failed attempt of execution
Smith survived a botched execution attempt in November 2022.
The execution was called off after nearly four hours of trying to set an IV line into his veins.
Smith was punctured with needles in the process, and his body was riddled with puncture holes.
He was granted entry to an elite yet undesirable club of people who have survived botched execution attempts.
Smith’s legal team has been involved in legal battles, including filing a lawsuit against the state to block his upcoming execution and seeking a review of the constitutionality of Alabama’s death penalty sentencing scheme.
He is scheduled to be executed on January 25, 2024, by an untested nitrogen-gas method, which has never been used in capital punishment before.
The execution is expected to be the first-ever execution by nitrogen hypoxia, but it was called off after authorities failed to set up the equipment properly.
Smith’s execution has been criticized by rights groups, some doctors, and the jury for the case itself, which voted against the death penalty.
His lawyers have argued that a second execution attempt would exacerbate the psychological trauma he has already experienced.
What is nitrogen hypoxia?
Nitrogen hypoxia is a method of execution that involves replacing the air in a person’s lungs with nitrogen gas, leading to death by hypoxia or lack of oxygen.
Nitrogen is an odorless, colorless gas that makes up about 78% of the Earth’s atmosphere.
When a person breathes pure nitrogen, it displaces the oxygen in their lungs, leading to hypoxia.
This method of execution is considered more humane than other methods, such as lethal injection or electrocution, as it causes no pain or suffering.
Nitrogen hypoxia is also a condition that affects deep-sea divers, known as nitrogen narcosis, which occurs when divers inhale compressed air from an oxygen tank while under a lot of pressure from water, increasing the pressure of oxygen and nitrogen in their blood and affecting their central nervous system.
Hypoxia is a state in which oxygen is not available in sufficient amounts at the tissue level to maintain adequate homeostasis.
FAQ
What is the background of Kenneth Eugene Smith?
Smith is a 58-year-old inmate in Alabama who survived a botched lethal injection execution on November 17, 2022.
Smith was convicted in the murder-for-hire slaying of a preacher’s wife in 1988.
His case has garnered significant attention due to the controversial nature of his execution and the use of a new and untested method, nitrogen hypoxia.
Why is his case controversial?
Smith’s case is controversial for several reasons.
First, the State of Alabama plans to execute him by the untested method of nitrogen hypoxia, which has raised concerns about the potential for an experimental execution.
Second, there have been legal challenges to Smith’s execution, with arguments that the method of nitrogen hypoxia is untested and could lead to unknown outcomes.
What are the legal challenges to his execution?
There have been several legal challenges to Smith’s execution.
A panel of the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals rejected Smith’s request for an injunction to stop his scheduled execution.
However, the court did not rule on the constitutionality of the method of nitrogen hypoxia, leaving the door open for further appeals.
What is the significance of the court rulings in his case?
The court rulings have been significant in several ways. First, the rejection of Smith’s request for an injunction allowed the execution to proceed.
Second, the court did not rule on the constitutionality of the method of nitrogen hypoxia, which means that the issue remains unresolved and could be appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court.
What are the ethical implications of his execution?
The ethical implications of Smith’s execution revolve around the use of a new and untested method, with concerns about the potential impact on his human dignity.
Critics argue that the use of nitrogen hypoxia raises questions about the state’s responsibility to protect the rights of its citizens, including the right to a humane and dignified death.
How has the public responded to his case?
The public response has included efforts to stop the execution, such as the signing of petitions to halt the use of nitrogen hypoxia for Smith’s execution.
Many people have expressed concerns about the potential risks and unknowns associated with the use of a new and untested method for executions.
What are the details of the crime for which he was convicted?
Smith was convicted in the murder-for-hire slaying of a preacher’s wife in 1988.
The crime has been a central part of the background to his case, with many people questioning whether the use of a new and untested method for his execution is appropriate given the nature of the crime.
What are the implications of using nitrogen hypoxia for executions?
The implications of using nitrogen hypoxia for executions include the lack of data on exactly what will happen and how the process will unfold, raising concerns about the potential impact on the individual being executed.
Critics argue that the use of a new and untested method for executions could lead to unintended consequences and violate the individual’s right to a humane and dignified death.
How has the legal system responded to his appeals?
The legal system has responded to Smith’s appeals with mixed decisions.
While some courts have rejected his claims, others have expressed concerns about the use of nitrogen hypoxia and the potential for unknown outcomes.
The legal system’s response highlights the complexity of the issue and the need for further discussion and debate.
What are the broader implications of his case for the use of the death penalty?
The broader implications of Smith’s case include questions about the use of untested methods for executions and the potential impact on the administration of the death penalty.
The case raises important ethical and legal questions about the state’s responsibility to protect the rights of its citizens, including the right to a humane and dignified death.