Tennessee authorities revealed a new procedure on Friday that could pave the way for the state to recommence executions after the previous one was unexpectedly interrupted in the spring of 2022, although executions will not recommence immediately.
After abruptly stopping the execution of prisoner Oscar Smith two and a half years ago, the state acknowledged that correction officials were not adhering to their own execution guidelines according to The Associated Press.
Smith, now 74, was scheduled to be executed for the 1989 killings of his estranged wife and her teenage sons before it was called off.
On Friday, the Tennessee Department of Correction disclosed that it had finished revising the lethal injection protocol, opting for the use of the single drug pentobarbital.
Alabama’s lethal injection chamber is shown Oct. 7, 2002, at Holman Correctional Facility in Atmore, Alabama. (AP)
Henry requested that no new execution dates be set while the court case continues.
She also highlighted that the U.S. Department of Justice is currently reviewing the use of pentobarbital in its executions.
“We know from the scientific data that single drug pentobarbital results in pulmonary edema which has been likened to waterboarding,” she said.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
