Louisiana Executes First Death Row Inmate with Nitrogen Gas

Louisiana executed Jessie Hoffman Jr. on Tuesday, marking the state's first use of nitrogen gas for an execution, a method criticized for its potential to cause suffering. Hoffman, 46, was convicted in 1996 of the murder of Mary 'Molly' Elliott, and his execution follows a 15-year hiatus in capital punishment in the state. Despite arguments from Hoffman's attorneys claiming the method was unconstitutional and would violate his Buddhist beliefs, last-minute appeals to block the execution were denied by the U.S. Supreme Court. Witnesses reported that previous nitrogen executions in Alabama led to involuntary movements, raising concerns about the method's humanity. State officials maintain that nitrogen hypoxia is painless, aiming to resume justice for victims' families. Hoffman's case has reignited debates surrounding the ethics of nitrogen gas executions, following similar controversies in Alabama.