Alabama carries out second-ever nitrogen gas execution in the US
Method involves placing a respirator gas mask over the face to suffocate with pure nitrogen gas, causing death
Alabama executed convicted murderer Alan Miller on Thursday in the second-ever nitrogen-asphyxiation execution since the state pioneered the method which it says is less painful than lethal injections but human rights experts say may amount to torture.
The 65-year-old shook, pulled against restraints and gasped for breath for several minutes before dying, journalists who witnessed the execution said.
Miller was convicted for the 1999 murders of three men, including two co-workers, in a shooting spree at two offices in Pelham, Alabama. His victims were Lee Michael Holdbrooks, Terry Lee Jarvis and Christopher Scott Yancy.
The state botched an attempt to execute Miller by lethal injection in 2022.
He was taken into the execution chamber for the second and final time on Thursday evening at the Holman Correctional Facility in Atmore. Pure nitrogen flowed through an industrial-safety respirator mask strapped to his face, suffocating him as it displaced oxygen. He was pronounced dead at 6.38pm, Alabama Governor Kay Ivey said in a statement.
Miller’s final words were: “I didn’t do anything to be in here,” according to an Associated Press reporter who was allowed to witness the execution.
