Smith appeared conscious for “several minutes into the execution,” and for two minutes after that, he “shook and writhed on a gurney,” according to the media witness report. That was followed by several minutes of deep breathing before his breath began slowing “until it was no longer perceptible.”

What the state said would happen:

The State argued that death by nitrogen hypoxia is painless, with unconsciousness occurring in a matter of seconds, then stoppage of the heart.