South Dakota Senator introduces bill to revoke death penalty

RAPID CITY, S.D. (KOTA) - Thursday, Alabama had the first ever known execution by nitrogen gas.

Kenneth Smiths original execution was by lethal injection in 2022 but was called off.

The state couldn’t get the IV line in before the death warrant expired.

14-months-later his execution will be carried out in a 30-hour window from Thursday to Friday.

Smith was sentenced to death for the 1988 murder of Elizabeth Sennett.

There are 27 states that still have the death penalty.

In South Dakota, there have been five executions since 1976, and currently there is one person on death row.

Senator Reynold Nesiba (D) district 15, introduced Senate Bill 109, which would revoke the death penalty in the state.

“Capital punishment I don’t believe serves as an effective deterrent against crime, it’s hugely expensive, it’s difficult for the people who have to impose it.” said Nesiba.

If the Senate Bill is passed it will only be applied to sentences after July of this year.