Context:

Alabama has scheduled the execution of Gregory Hunt for June 10, using nitrogen gas, for the 1988 murder of Karen Lane. The state, under Governor Kay Ivey, continues to pioneer this method, having already conducted four executions with nitrogen. Hunt was convicted of capital murder in 1990, with overwhelming evidence including Hunt’s own admission and a jury’s strong recommendation for the death penalty. His defense argues that a recent Supreme Court decision might impact his case, citing the use of potentially misleading evidence during his trial. Despite this, Hunt had previously chosen nitrogen gas as his method of execution before Alabama finalized its protocols, and this would mark the third execution by the state this year.

Dive Deeper:

• Alabama is set to execute Gregory Hunt using nitrogen gas on June 10 for the murder of Karen Lane, a woman he had been dating for about a month before her death in 1988.

• Governor Kay Ivey announced the execution date following approval from the Alabama Supreme Court, as the state continues to lead in using nitrogen gas for capital punishment.

• The method involves a gas mask that forces the condemned to breathe pure nitrogen, causing death by oxygen deprivation, and has been used in five executions across Alabama and Louisiana.

• Hunt was convicted in 1990 after a jury recommended the death penalty by an 11-1 vote, supported by evidence of his confession to a cellmate and the brutal nature of the crime, which included 60 injuries to Lane.

• Hunt’s legal team has requested a delay in execution, arguing that a recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling could affect his claims of unconstitutional conviction due to false or misleading evidence.

• Despite the controversy, Hunt had selected nitrogen gas as his preferred execution method prior to Alabama establishing its gas execution protocol, showcasing the complexities of capital punishment choices.

• If executed, Hunt would be the sixth person to die by nitrogen gas and the third execution in Alabama in the current year, illustrating the state’s active use of this controversial execution method.