Death row execution: Alabama's first suffocation

After trying - and failing - to kill him via lethal injection, Alabama is planning to execute death row inmate Kenneth Smith next week using an untested method - nitrogen suffocation. But why are they resorting to this? And could he get a last minute reprieve?

Today's episode contains descriptions of death and execution, right from the start - so do consider if you want to listen.

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Guest: Alistair Dawber, Washington correspondent, The Times and The Sunday Times.

Host: Manveen Rana.

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