Alabama executed Alan Eugene Miller, a convicted former delivery driver, using nitrogen gas for the second time in the United States, resulting in his death at the state prison in Atmore. This method was chosen after an unsuccessful attempt to execute him by the state in 2020. During the execution, Miller appeared to gasp, shake, and tremble for several minutes before being declared dead at 6:38 p.m.
Alabama has been employing nitrogen gas as an alternative method for executions, with the aim of being swift, painless, and humane. However, concerns regarding the effectiveness and potential suffering caused by nitrogen gas have been raised. Miller initially challenged the use of nitrogen but later agreed to it after experiencing issues with lethal injection during a previous attempt at execution.
Miller was convicted for a workplace shooting spree in which he killed three people in 1999. He claimed mental instability as justification, but his appeals were unsuccessful. Human rights groups have criticized the use of nitrogen gas in executions, raising concerns about potential pain and prolonged suffering caused by the method. Despite these criticisms and the controversy surrounding the use of nitrogen gas, Miller’s execution proceeded as scheduled, marking a busy period of executions in the United States.
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