In the state of Alabama, USA, a federal judge has halted the execution of a prisoner by nitrogen gas.
Medianews.az reports that the court argued this method could be considered a "cruel and unusual punishment" prohibited by the Constitution.
Federal judge Emily Marks did not allow the execution of 49-year-old prisoner Jeffrey Lee by nitrogen gas. In her decision, the judge stated that the ban applies only to this method of execution. The prisoner's death sentence can be carried out by other legal methods – lethal injection or electric chair.
It should be noted that the nitrogen gas execution method has been applied in Alabama since 2024. In this method, a special mask is placed on the prisoner, and nitrogen gas is administered. As a result, oxygen deprivation causes death.
So far, 8 people have been executed by this method in the US. Jeffrey Lee could have been the 9th prisoner executed by nitrogen gas.