Louisiana: Death Row inmate executed with nitrogen gas

A man sentenced to death in Louisiana was executed by inhaling nitrogen gas, a method that causes death by hypoxia (lack of oxygen).

This Tuesday, state authorities executed Jessie Hoffman, 46, who was sentenced to death after being convicted of kidnapping, raping and murdering a woman identified as Mary Elliot in 1996.

Hoffman's execution is the first in Louisiana in the past 15 years.

The felon's attorneys confirmed their client's execution. "The state was able to execute him by pushing a new protocol and setting execution dates to avoid careful judicial review (to) keep the process secret," the defense said, in statements picked up by AFP.

Jeff Landry, governor of Louisiana, issued a communique also confirming Hoffman's execution: "Tonight, after 28 years, justice was served. The state of Louisiana fulfilled the contract it signed with the family and friends of Mary Molly Elliot."

In the past year, several death row inmates have been executed by this method.

In January of last year, in Alabama, Kenneth Eugene Smith, 58, was the first to be executed using the nitrogen gas inhalation method. He was sentenced to capital punishment in 1996 for a 1988 homicide.

Eight months later, also in Alabama, Alan Eugene Miller, 59, was the next death row inmate to be executed under this same system. He was sentenced for murdering three co-workers in 1999.

In February of this year, again in Alabama, Demetrius Frazier, 52, was also executed using this method. He was sentenced to death nearly three decades ago for the rape and murder of a woman.

This week, three other people are scheduled to be executed in Arizona, Florida and Oklahoma. All three will be carried out by lethal injection.