26 January 2024 , 11:53
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The man in charge of a controversial "guinea pig" execution was once fired for "mercilessly beating" a woman he met on a dating website.
Terry Raybon, warden of William C. Holman Correctional Facility, oversaw the death of Kenneth Smith, 58, at an Alabam prison following his toxic gas execution this morning.
It marked the first time a new execution method was used in the U.S. since 1982, when lethal injection was introduced and later became the most common method.
The execution took about 22 minutes from the time between the opening and closing of the curtains to the viewing room. Smith appeared to remain conscious for several minutes. For at least two minutes, he appeared to shake and writhe on the gurney, sometimes pulling against the restraints. That was followed by several minutes of heavy breathing, until breathing was no longer perceptible.
READ MORE: Death row killer's victim's son forgives the murderer after gas death
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Mugshot of death row inmate Kenneth Smith (Alabama Department of Correction)However, who is the man overseeing the much-criticised death which has been labelled "inhuman" by human rights campaigners?
Who is Terry Raybon?
Raybon was a former Alabama State Trooper before he was sacked in April 2000 following a scathing report from a judge after he claimed Alabama Department of Public Safety’s and its supervisors’ decision to fire him was racially motivated.
This was rejected by District Judge Ira De Ment, writing: “The Alabama Department of Public Safety fired a state trooper who beat up two of his female acquaintances, refused to perform his work acceptably, and incurred various debts from convicted felons.
"That should have been the end of instance in any sane world the police should not be required to employ persons of questionable character. But this state trooper has made a federal case of it, alleging that he was canned because of his race.”
According to the report, Raybon, who started working for the troopers in 1985, was recommended he be suspended without pay in November 1998 following a "domestic violence altercation."
It claimed a drunk Raybon “beat or used physical force against a woman to such extent that hospital treatment was necessary.” The victim was left with a perforated left ear drum and dozens of bruises. Raybon rejected claims he hit her. The woman, from Australia, travelled to Alabama to meet him after the pair met online, where he used the name "Supertrooper."
The death chamber where prisoners are sent (Sygma via Getty Images)Why was he suspended?
According to a suspension letter, Raybon showed “a series of lack of attention to (his) assigned duties and failure to submit reports.” It suggested Raybon didn’t submit driver’s licence and vehicle inspection reports, arrest reports, or incident reports. Raybon did not appeal this suspension and accepted the 30-day suspension without pay.
Raybon was issued a warning, which was detailed in the state’s court filings: “In short, there is no one except yourself that can cure your problems.”
However, less than 30 days after returning to work, Raybon was involved in another domestic violence altercatoin in Prattville. In February 1999, he "used physical force against a woman in a hotel room, causing injury to her by striking her face with a telephone, pushing her, and breaking off a fingernail."
He is commander of William C. Holman Correctional Facility (ABC)According to the judge’s order, “Raybon had developed a romantic relationship with the woman, and it turned out that Raybon now owed her several thousand dollars.” A filing from Raybon’s lawyer said Raybon didn’t know that the woman was a convicted prisoner and that he didn’t intend to hit her when he “tossed” the telephone to her.
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How did he get promoted?
The same chief recommended Raybon be fired and along with an administrative review board, and he was terminated from the position in March 1999. “The department has determined that you are a danger to the public and our attempt to help you rehabilitate yourself has failed,” the acting chief of the highway patrol division wrote.
Despite the sackings, he was able to get a job at the Alabama Department of Corrections in 2000 and worked his way up to one of the state's most notorious despite numerous accusations of domestic abuse.