Alan Miller, 59, second person in US to be executed via controversial technique, shook and trembled on gurney

Alan Miller shook and trembled on gurney after becoming second person to be executed by controversial technique

Alabama has carried out the second execution in the US using the controversial method of nitrogen gas, an experimental technique for humans that veterinarians have deemed unacceptable in the US and Europe for the euthanasia of most animals.

Alan Eugene Miller, 59, was pronounced dead on Thursday evening at a south Alabama prison. The lethal method involves being strapped to a gurney, where a respirator mask is applied to the face and pure nitrogen piped in. The resulting oxygen deprivation will cause death by asphyxia.

Miller shook and trembled on the gurney for about two minutes with his body at times pulling against the restraints, followed by about six minutes of gasping breathing, according to the Associated Press.

Miller’s death is the latest in an extraordinary week in the US in which five condemned men in five states are set to be killed over six days. Three prisoners have already been executed – on Friday South Carolina killed Khalil Divine Black Sun Allah in its first execution in 13 years, then on Tuesday Texas killed Travis Mullis and Missouri put to death Marcellus Williams.

  • Mac@mander.xyz
    33·
    3 months ago

    You can watch Destin from Smarter Every Day almost die on camera* due to hypoxia.
    I’ll go looking for the link.

    Obviously watch the whole video but start at 5:27 (ends around 7:30) for the moment. Watching this freaks me the fuck out every time.
    YT Link

    *He was in a safe environment

    • themadcodger@kbin.earth
      9·
      3 months ago

      Holy shit. I assumed we would have minutes not seconds if a plane depressurized. I understand what that would freak you the fuck out.

      • Mac@mander.xyz
        15·
        3 months ago

        That’s not what gets me, its watching him degrade and then not have the presence of mind to simply reenable his oxygen.
        That triggers me super hard for some reason

    • SkyezOpen@lemmy.world
      18·
      3 months ago

      Also so many instances of cave divers going loopy then dead in a matter of minutes. It’s astounding that it’s so easy to accidentally die from nitrogen but we just can’t seem to get the hang of not torturing people to death.