Two Individuals Met with Capital Punishment - One through Utilization of Nitrogen Gas
On a threatening Thursday, two capital punishments were carried out across the United States. In Oklahoma, a gentleman was put to death through lethal injection, while Alabama, in defiance of international criticism, opted for nitrogen gas once more for an execution within the nation's borders. The tally of executions this year now stands at a chilling 18.
Fifty-two-year-old Emmanuel Littlejohn, a man with asteady background, was condemned to death in Oklahoma over a murder committed during a robbery at a modest supermarket all the way back in 1992. Littlejohn continued to refute his involvement in the death, placing blame upon his accomplice in crime. A plea for mercy from Littlejohn was sternly denied by Oklahoma's governor, Kevin Stitt.
In Alabama, the 59-year-old Alan Miller exchanged life for death after being found guilty of murdering three colleagues back in 1999. Pure nitrogen was administered through a mask, ultimately causing him to suffer through asphyxiation. Reports from local media indicate a struggling period of approximately two minutes.
UN highlights the potential for "torture"
Alabama is one of a select few US states that permit this questionable method of execution. The initial application of nitrogen gas in Alabama in January was met with widespread condemnation globally. The United Nations questioned the potential for "torture," while the White House voiced "deep concern," and the EU voiced their dissatisfaction.
An attempt at executing Miller through lethal injection was foiled at the very last minute in September 2022 due to complications in administering the deadly substance. The death penalty has been outlawed in 23 US states, and in six additional states - Arizona, California, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, and Tennessee - its implementation is currently on hold.
The United Nations continued to express their concern about the use of nitrogen gas for executions in Alabama, citing the potential for "torture" due to the method's uncertainty and risk of prolonged suffering. Despite international criticism, Alabama decided to proceed with the death penalty for Alan Miller using nitrogen gas, following his conviction for murder.
