Inmate in 22-min. death by nitrogen

The wife of killer Kenneth Eugene Smith reportedly cried out as he thrashed against his restraints during the 22 minutes it took for him to become the first person in the US put to death by nitrogen gas — which his victim’s son said marked his mom finally getting “justice” 36 years after her murder.

Smith, 58 — who previously survived a botched execution day — appeared to remain conscious for several minutes Thursday as he was made to inhale the nitrogen through a mask, depriving him of oxygen until he suffocated Thursday night at the Holman Prison in Atmore, Ala.

As the killer pushed against his restraints, his wife, Deanna, cried out for him from the witness box, according to reporters at the scene.

She was joined by other family members to witness the execution, which took about 22 minutes — far longer than the family had been told, according to the family’s spiritual adviser, Jeff Hood.

“We didn’t see somebody go unconscious in 30 seconds,” Hood said while standing with Deanna. “What we saw was minutes of someone struggling for their life.

“Kenny Smith was by no means a perfect person, but we have to make sure that this never, ever happens again.”

Smith was one of two men convicted of killing Elizabeth Sennett in 1988 on behalf of her preacher husband, Charles, who paid them $1,000 each.

She was found stabbed to death in her home. Charles killed himself a week later as detectives pursued him.

Sennett’s son, Mike, called the execution a “bittersweet day.”

“We’re not going to be around, hooting and hollering ‘hooray’ and all that,” Mike said. “But we’re glad this day is over.

“Elizabeth Dorlene Thorne Sennett got her justice tonight,” he said.