State murder of a black man. Or, why I oppose the death penalty.

[RandomNumbers]

Alabama executes man on death row by controversial nitrogen gas method

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/oct/23/alabama-execution-nitrogen-gas-anthony-boyd

(emphasis added)

An Alabama man convicted of helping to burn a man alive was executed by nitrogen gas – a form of suffocation which defense lawyers have described as cruel and unusual punishment – on Thursday shortly after the US supreme court signed off on the seventh execution using the contested method.

Anthony Boyd, 54, was sent to the death chamber at the William C Holman correctional facility on Thursday evening.

...

Boyd has always protested his innocence. The prosecution case depended on the testimony of an eyewitness with no forensic evidence connecting Boyd to the crime.

“I didn’t kill anybody. I didn’t participate in any killing,” Boyd said when he phoned in to a recent press conference held by his supporters.

His death sentence was handed down by a jury vote of 10 to two. Alabama and Florida are the only states that allow people to be sent to death row on the basis of a non-unanimous jury verdict.

Maybe he helped burn that man alive ... perhaps the excruciating method of execution seems deserved, then?

But, what if he DIDN'T ??

[elleng]

1. Alabama and Florida are the only states that allow people to be sent to death row on the basis of a non-unanimous jury.

[lastlib]

2. I agree--the state should NOT have the power to take life....

under ANY circumstances.

If you want a vivid exegesis on why, I commend Albert Camus' excellent essay, Reflections On The Guillotine. It will turn your stomach.

[Iris]

3. The AL Solution in HBO leaves no doubt in my mind that that state is full of sadistic politicians