Alabama set to execute man who did not kill anyone - NBC News

NBC News
March 7, 2026
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2 min read

The Bottom Line

Alabama plans to execute a man by nitrogen gas for a murder he did not directly commit.

How This Affects You

This execution marks the first use of nitrogen hypoxia as a capital punishment method in the U.S., potentially setting a precedent for future executions nationwide.

AI-Generated Summary

Alabama is proceeding with the execution of Kenneth Eugene Smith via nitrogen hypoxia, despite Smith not being the individual who directly committed the murder for which he was convicted. Smith was sentenced to death for his role in a 1988 murder-for-hire plot, though his accomplice was the one who inflicted the fatal wounds. This execution marks the first time a state will use nitrogen hypoxia as a method of capital punishment. The case raises questions about culpability in capital cases and the methods of execution employed by states.

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