Heaved and coughed

[rug]

Alabama inmate appears conscious for 13 minutes during execution procedure

By Keegan Hamilton on Dec 9, 2016

A prison inmate executed in Alabama Thursday night appeared to remain partially conscious for about 13 minutes after receiving a lethal injection shot, a grisly incident that raises further questions about the humaneness and efficacy of the procedure.

Ronald Bert Smith Jr. was put to death at Alabama’s Holman Correctional Facility after the Supreme Court, split 4-4 due to the vacancy left after the death of Justice Antonin Scalia last February, refused to grant him stay of execution. The 45-year-old Smith, who was convicted of the execution-style murder of a convenience store clerk in Huntsville, Alabama, in 1994, was declared dead at 11:05 p.m., about 34 minutes after he received a cocktail of three lethal injection drugs.

Reporters from the Associated Press and local news site AL.com, who were present for the execution, said Smith periodically “heaved and coughed” for about 13 minutes after he was injected, and also appeared to clench his fists and raise his head. His left eye reportedly appeared to open at times, and his lips were seen moving.

Alabama Corrections Commissioner Jeff Dunn refused to say whether anything had gone wrong during the execution. “We do know we followed our protocol,” Dunn said, according to the AP. “We are absolutely convinced of that.”

https://news.vice.com/story/alabama-execution-lethal-injection-ronald-bert-smith-jr-supreme-court

[Binkie The Clown]

1. I'm against capital punishment, but if they insist on executions, then...

...why don't they simply use carbon monoxide. Cheap, humane, effective. Back a 56 Chevy v8 up to the gas camber and stick a hose in the tail pipe. Inmate falls peacefully asleep, and then doesn't wake up again.

[rug]

2. I don't particularly want to discuss this barbarity clinically but

gas chambers use cyanide because it's very quick, as opposed to CO which allows time and opportunity for struggle.

Just recall the stories of those who operated the nazi gas chambers.

The agonizing deaths ruffle the state's righteousness at these events.

[Binkie The Clown]

3. You're right,. It's an ugly subject that should be done away with in civilized society. n/t