The family of Elizabeth Sennett, the woman murdered by Kenneth Eugene Smith, said it was a “bittersweet day” after the killer was executed with nitrogen gas.
Smith, 58, had a gas mask placed over his face before a stream of 100 percent nitrogen gas suffocated him in the execution chamber at William C. Holman Prison in Atmore, Alabama, on Wednesday evening.
He was officially pronounced dead at 8:25 p.m. local time, 22 minutes after the nitrogen gas was first administered. At 8:07 p.m., a correctional officer leaned over Smith and examined him before stepping back to the wall to continue the execution.
After the execution, Mike Sennett, one of Elizabeth's sons, said the family was glad the day was over and that “the burden had been lifted from his shoulders.”
He also said that this was the day his mother “got her justice” and that the “murderer's debt” had been “paid” tonight.
Kenneth Eugene Smith was sentenced to death in 1996 after admitting to the contract killing of a pastor's wife, who was beaten and stabbed to death in 1988. On Thursday evening he became the first person in US history to be executed with nitrogen gas
After the execution, Mike Sennett, one of Elizabeth's sons, said the family was glad the day was over and that “the burden had been lifted from his shoulders.”
He also said that this was the day his mother “got her justice” and that the “murderer's debt” had been “paid” tonight
Mike said during the press conference that the Smith family has forgiven his crimes
At the press conference, Mike said, “Nothing happened here today that would bring Mom back.”
“It’s kind of a bittersweet day. We won't be jumping around all the time, shouting “Hurray” and so on. That's not us. But we are glad that this day is over.
“We have forgiven all three people involved in this case years ago.” Not today, but we have in the past.
“Some people may not believe that, you know, how can you forgive someone?” Well, in an effort to become more like Christ, to try to live by His teachings and so on, that's my duty and a burden that falls off my shoulders.
“I forgive him, I forgive him for what he did, I don’t like what he did, but we forgave them.”
“The Bible says evil deeds have consequences – and Kenneth Smith made some bad decisions 35 years ago – and his debt was paid tonight.”
“Some of you may have heard us talk over and over again about 35, 35 years. 35 years – Kenneth Smith, Parker, Williams – Williams not so much because he died in the system, but Parker and Smith were incarcerated almost twice as long as I knew my mother.”
“Elizabeth Dorlene Thorne Sennett received justice tonight.”
He also thanked people for their support and comments during his statement.
“The Bible says evil deeds have consequences – and Kenneth Smith made some bad decisions 35 years ago – and his debt was paid tonight,” he said
In another interview, Chuck Sennett said he just wanted the saga of his mother's murder to be over
Chuck said his mother was stabbed about a dozen times in the neck and head
When asked what he would say to his mother if he could say anything else to her, Chuck said he would tell her that he loves and misses her
In his final words, spoken through the gas mask on his face, Smith made a heart sign with his hands to his family and said: “Tonight, Alabama causes humanity to take a step back… I leave with love, peace and… “Light”
In an earlier interview with 1819 News this week, Elizabeth's other son, Charles “Chuck” Sennett, said: “We just want it to be over, and I'm sure his family does too.” It's been 35 years.
'He is [Smith] Actually, he was probably laughing, or because he said he would get out of the first one, and he did. So we'd better go through with this or we'll have serious problems,” he continued.
Chuck went on to say that his mother had been stabbed about a dozen times in the neck and head.
“She had scars all over her upper body.” Me and my brother went to the farm and had to get the carpet replaced, we cleaned the walls, the fireplace and everything. It was just bad. It was bad. And so she had apparently defended herself well. It was terrible. “It was terrible,” he said.
He then railed against the Alabama justice system for giving her mother's killer so much recourse.
“Alabama’s justice system sucks.” They have the worst in the union, in my opinion. I don't know how someone can make so many appeals, especially after admitting what they did. It's pathetic. “This should have happened 30 years ago.”
“I think about her every day. Not a day went by that I didn't think about her or Dad. I have an image of her in my head, what she looked like and stuff. But then I also have a picture of her lying in the coffin there,” he continued.
The convicted murderer, 58, was pronounced dead in the execution chamber at the William C. Holman Facility in Atmore, Alabama, at 8:25 p.m
When asked what he would say to his mother if he could say anything else to her.
“I would tell her I love you and that I miss her.”
Smith was sentenced to death in 1996 for the contract killing of an Elizabeth in 1988, although her husband, Charles Sr., paid him just $1,000 for the murder.
His pastor John Ewell told before his execution that the killer was “really struggling with the reality of his impending death” and officials said he had his last meal consisting of a T-bone steak, hash browns, eggs and A1 sauce, barely touched Waffle House.
In his final words, spoken through the gas mask on his face, Smith made a heart sign with his hands to his family and said: “Tonight, Alabama causes humanity to take a step back… I leave with love, peace and… “Light.”
The historic execution divided opinion, including among Supreme Court justices, who voted 6-3 to allow the procedure to be carried out using the untested method previously labeled “torture” by the United Nations.
Smith's execution was the first time a new method had been used on America's death row since lethal injections were introduced 42 years ago.
One of the main reasons Alabama resorted to nitrogen gas in Smith's execution was the widespread difficulty American prisons have had in obtaining lethal injections in recent years.