Alabama prepares for its third nitrogen gas execution

An Alabama inmate convicted in a 1994 murder is poised to die Thursday in the state's third nitrogen hypoxia execution this year.

An Alabama inmate convicted in a 1994 murder is poised to die Thursday in the state's third nitrogen hypoxia execution this year.

The emerging execution method, which involves breathing solely nitrogen gas through a mask while being deprived of oxygen, continues to draw concerns over the possibility of prolonged suffering and whether there is an unconstitutional risk of added pain.

But a federal appeals court this week rejected arguments made by the condemned man's lawyers, allowing the execution of Carey Dale Grayson, 50, to proceed.

Carey Dale Grayson asked to have his execution carried out by nitrogen gas. Alabama Department of Corrections via AP fileGrayson is set to die at the state prison in Atmore for the abduction and killing of a hitchhiker, Vickie Deblieux, when he was 19 and his three co-defendants were younger than 18.

His co-defendants' death sentences were eventually amended to life sentences after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that executing juveniles is unconstitutional.

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/alabama-execute-carey-dale-grayson-nitrogen-gas-rcna180893

---