Today in History: Lethal gas was used for the first time in the US as a form of execution
James Byron Dean, celebrated his birthday on this day, 8 February.
Lethal gas was used at the Nevada State Prison today as a form of Execution for the first time in the United States on Convicted murderer Gee Jon.
1952 – Queen Elizabeth the Second
Princess Elizabeth has formally proclaimed herself Queen and Head of the Commonwealth and Defender of the Faith declaring her reign as Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth the Second.
1994 – Congo Republic Plane Crash
A cargo plane crash had occurred in the country of what is now present-day Democratic Republic of the Congo (previously known as Kishasa, Zaire). At least a couple of hundred people were killed and 500 more were injured. Two of the six crew members were killed as well.
The engine of this plane had smoked and burst into flames, as it attempted to take off from the runway one sunny afternoon. The operators of the marketplace that it had hit (where all the people were killed/injured) tried to take action against the airport.
However, it was ruled in a Russian court that the marketplace should have not been so close to the airport in the first place. Therefore, the marketplace was denied compensation. However, the four crew members that survived the plane crash were sentenced to two years in prison.
2002 – 2002 Winter Olympics
The opening ceremonies for the 2002 Winter Olympics in Utah lasting until February 24th
2008 – Nebraska bans the electric chair, and calls it unconstitutional
The Nebraska Supreme Court has ruled that the electric chair, which is the only method used for executions in that state, is a violation of human dignity, and as such, is unconstitutional. Having confirmed the death penalty that was imposed on Raymond Mata for the murder of a three-year-old boy, the court said that he should not be electrocuted. The court elucidated by saying that ‘Electrocution’s proven history of burning and charring bodies is inconsistent with both the concepts of evolving standards of decency and the dignity of man.’ It went on to say that electrocution ‘has proven itself to be a dinosaur more befitting the laboratory of Baron Frankenstein than the death chamber.’
