Capital punishment (death penalty) news and discussions

[wjfox]

Use of the death penalty is declining over time.

If the current trend is maintained, we can expect two-thirds of UN members to have abolished it by 2038...







... and close to 100% by 2110.






In this thread, we can track the latest progress, follow some notable cases, and discuss this often controversial topic.

[wjfox]

One notable case right now is that of Kenneth Smith:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kenneth_Smith_(criminal)

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/202 ... trogen-gas

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-68053917

He is scheduled to be executed on Thursday 25th in the Holman Correctional Facility, Alabama, using nitrogen hypoxia. If the sentence is carried out, Smith will become the first death row inmate in the world to die via this method.



Credit: Alabama Department of Corrections

[firestar464]

Americans when other countries say "who cares about un:" ew

Americans when their state does it: jesus ramble ramble blah blah blah murica f*ck yeah

[wjfox]

Kenneth Eugene Smith: Alabama carries out first US nitrogen gas execution

3 hours ago

Alabama has executed convicted murderer Kenneth Eugene Smith with nitrogen gas, the first time the method of capital punishment has been used in the US.

Smith, 58, lost two final appeals to the Supreme Court and one to a federal appeals court, arguing the execution was a cruel and unusual punishment.

[...]

"Tonight Alabama causes humanity to take a step backwards," Smith said, according to witnesses. "Thank you for supporting me. Love all of you."

After the gas began to flow into his mask, the inmate is said to have smiled, nodded toward his family and signed "I love you".

Witnesses observed two to four minutes of writhing and about five minutes of heavy breathing before he was pronounced dead at 20:25 local time (02:35 GMT).

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-68085513