A man sentenced for kidnapping and murder was executed in Alabama by nitrogen inhalation, a method criticized by the UN.

A man named Anthony Boyd was executed on Thursday in Alabama, having been convicted of the kidnapping and murder of Gregory Huguley in 1993. Huguley was burned alive over a $200 drug debt. Boyd's execution was carried out by nitrogen inhalation, a method that has been compared by UN experts to a form of torture.

Although convicted based on the testimony of a co-defendant, Boyd has always maintained his innocence. This is the 40th execution in the U.S. in 2023, surpassing executions in 2013. Most executions this year have been carried out by lethal injection, but nitrogen inhalation has been used five times, having been introduced in Alabama in 2024. The death penalty has been abolished in 23 U.S. states, and three others have instituted a moratorium on executions.