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 Wednesday evening before a stream of 100 percent nitrogen gas suffocated him in the execution chamber of the William C. Holman Prison in Atmore, Alabama.
He was officially declared dead at 8:25 PM local time, 22 minutes after the nitrogen gas was first administered. At 8:07 p.m., a corrections officer stood over Smith and examined him before stepping back against the wall to allow the execution to proceed.
After the execution, Mike Sennett, one of Elizabeth’s sons, said the family was glad the day was over and that “the burden was lifted off his shoulders.”
He also said this was the day his mother “got justice” and that the killer’s “debt was paid tonight.”
Kenneth Eugene Smith was sentenced to death in 1996 after admitting to killing a preacher’s wife for hire in 1988. On Thursday night, he became the first person in American 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 “a weight was lifted off his shoulders.”
He also said this was the day his mother “got justice” and that the killer’s “debt was paid tonight.”
Mike said during the press conference that the Smith family had forgiven his crimes
At the press conference, Mike said, “Nothing happened here today to bring mommy back.
“It’s a bit of a bittersweet day. We’re not going to jump around, jump around, scream and shout “hurrah” and all that. We are not. But we’re glad this day is over.
“We have forgiven all three people who were involved in this case years ago. Not today, but we have done that in the past.
“Some people might not believe that, you know, how do you forgive someone. Well, in an effort to be more like Christ, try to live his teachings and such, it is my duty and it is a burden off my shoulders.
“I forgive him, I forgive him for what he did, I don’t like what he did, but they are forgiven by us.
“The Bible says bad actions 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 years, 35 years. 35 years – Kenneth Smith, Parker, Williams – Williams not so much because he died in the system, but Parker and Smith have been incarcerated almost twice as long as I knew my mother.”
“Elizabeth Dorlene Thorne Sennett got justice tonight.”
He also thanked the people for their support and comments during his statement.
“The Bible says bad actions have consequences – and Kenneth Smith made some bad decisions 35 years ago – and his debt is paid tonight,” he said.
In another interview, Chuck Sennett said he just wants the saga of his mother’s murder to be over
Chuck said his mother was stabbed about ten times in the neck and head
When asked what he would say to his mother if he could say one more thing to her, Chuck said he would tell her he loved and missed 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 is making humanity take a step back… I leave with love, peace and peace. light’
In an earlier interview with 1819 News this week, Elizabeth’s other son, Charles “Chuck” Sennett, said, “We just want this to be over and I’m sure his family does too.” It’s been 35 years.
“He (Smith) is probably laughing, or that’s what happened because he said he was going to get out of that first one, and he did. So this one better go ahead or we’re going to be in serious trouble,” he continued.
Chuck went on to say that his mother was stabbed about ten times in the neck and head.
‘She had scars all over her upper body. My brother and I went to the farm and had to get the carpet replaced, we cleaned the walls, the fireplace, everything. It was just bad. It was bad. And so apparently she had put up a good fight. It was horrible. It was terrible,” he said.
He then railed against the Alabama justice system, which provided so many avenues of appeal for their mother’s killer.
“Alabama’s justice system sucks. They have the worst in the union, I think. I don’t understand how anyone can have so many objections, especially after admitting what he did. It is pathetic. This should have happened thirty years ago.”
‘I think about her every day. Not a day has gone by that I haven’t thought about her or Dad. I have her picture in my mind, what she looked like and everything. But I also have a photo there of her lying in the coffin,” he continued.
The convicted killer, 58, was pronounced dead at 8:25 p.m. in the execution chamber of the William C. Holman facility in Atmore, Alabama.
When asked what he would say to his mother if he could say one more thing to her.
“I would tell her I love you and I miss her.”
Smith had been sentenced to death in 1996 for the 1988 murder-for-hire of Elizabeth, being paid just $1,000 for the blow to her husband, Charles Sr.
His pastor John Ewell told DailyMail.com before his execution that the killer “really struggled” with the reality of his impending death, and officials said he barely touched his last meal of a T-bone steak, potato wedges, eggs and A1 sauce . 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 is making humanity take a step back… I leave with love, peace and peace. light.’
The historic execution divided opinion, including among Supreme Court justices who voted 6-3 to allow the procedure to go ahead, with the untested method previously labeled “torture” by the UN.
Smith’s execution marked the first time a new method was used on U.S. death row since lethal injections were first introduced 42 years ago.
One of the main reasons Alabama used nitrogen gas to execute Smith is the widespread struggle that U.S. prisons have faced in recent years in obtaining lethal injection drugs.
