A convicted murderer was put to death in a prison of Louisiana with the help of nitrogen gas, the first time the state used the method because it resumed the executions for the first time in 15 years.
Jessie Hoffman Jr., 46, was declared dead on Tuesday at 6.50 pm in the Louisiana State Penitentiary in an execution that lasted 19 minutes.
An official gift said that the execution was 'flawless'.
It was the fifth time that nitrogen gas was pumped by a gas mask to stag a prisoner in the death cell.
The previous four were performed in Alabama, with the first nitrogen version in the history of the United States that was performed in January 2024 on Kenneth Eugene Smith, a man who killed a 45-year-old woman more than 30 years ago.
Smith, just like Hoffman, lived 22 minutes while the nitrogen gas flowed into its lungs.
Hoffman was convicted of kidnapping, rape and murder of Mary 'Molly' Elliott, a 28-year advertisement director who was murdered in New Orleans.
At the time of the crime in 1996, Hoffman 18 was 18 and has since spent a large part of his adult life in the penitentiary in the countryside of Southeast Louisiana, where he was executed on Tuesday evening.
Jessie Hoffman Jr., 46, was declared dead on Tuesday at 6.50 pm in the Louisiana State Penitentiary in an execution that lasted 19 minutes
Hoffman was convicted of kidnapping, rape and murder of Mary 'Molly' Elliott (photo), a 28-year advertisement director who was murdered in New Orleans
Displayed: The Hoffman execution table was tied to the Penitentiary of the state of Louisiana
The lawyers of Hoffman conducted numerous court fights on his behalf, hoping to save his life.
His lawyers claimed that the nitrogen hypoxia method is unconstitutional and violates its eighth rights that prohibits cruel and unusual punishment.
They also said that it infringing the freedom of Hoffman to practice religion, in particular his Buddhist breathing and meditation in the moments prior to his death.
'Mr. Hoffman sincerely believes that he must practice his Buddhist breathing exercises in the critical transition between life and death, “his lawyers said.
Despite appeal to the Supreme Court, the highest court in the country voted 5-4 against intervention in Hoffman's case.
Hoffman's Buddhist spiritual adviser knelt beside him as he sang while he was slowly choking, Nola.com reported.
Witnesses said they entered the room at 6.17 pm and that gas started to flow in Hoffman's mask at 6:21 pm.
Hoffman was tied to the table and most of his body was covered with a thick blanket, although people present reported that he saw him make a sacred hand gesture in Buddhism – an index and thumb that points to each other.
Shortly after the gas was switched on, Hoffman started pulling, said witnesses. They added that his hands were clamped and his head shocked while the gas flowed.
He took his last visible breath at 6:37 PM and the curtains were closed in front of the room shortly thereafter.
The prison guards declared him dead at 6.50 pm when the curtains reopened.
