A convicted murderer in Louisiana has become the first in the state to be executed using nitrogen gas after his appeal was denied. The execution took place at the Louisiana State Penitentiary, marking the first use of this method in the state. Jessie Hoffman, 46, was executed for the 1996 kidnapping, rape, and murder of Mary "Molly" Elliott, a 28-year-old advertising executive. Elliott was abducted from her home and killed execution-style in St. Tammany Parish.
Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill confirmed the execution, stating it was a step towards justice for Elliott and her family. Hoffman did not make a final statement before the execution, which was carried out using nitrogen gas, a method that officials described as "flawless," despite reports of Hoffman convulsing.
The U.S. Supreme Court narrowly voted to allow the execution to proceed, rejecting a last-minute appeal. Hoffman's lawyer had argued that the nitrogen gas method was unconstitutional and violated his religious beliefs as a Buddhist, who proposed a firing squad as an alternative.
The use of nitrogen gas, which causes death by depriving the body of oxygen, is permitted in only a few states, including Louisiana. This method has been used previously only in Alabama. The execution marks the first in Louisiana since 2010, and officials expect more executions to follow this year.
The decision to carry out the execution was part of a broader effort to resume capital punishment in the state after a long hiatus due to difficulties in obtaining lethal injection drugs. Attorney General Murrill emphasized the commitment to enforcing the law and ensuring justice for victims' families.