La. Death Row Inmate Defense Team Objects To Use Of Nitrogen Gas

A death row inmate's defense team is objecting to the state's plan to execute him with nitrogen gas.

Jessie Hoffman Jr. was sentenced to death for abducting, raping, and killing a woman in St. Tammany Parish in 1996.

Louisiana recently adopted the use of nitrogen gas as a means of execution because of the shortage of lethal injection drugs.

Hoffman's defense calls it cruel and unusual punishment, and claims it would interfere with his Buddhist practice of deep breathing.

Hoffman's execution is scheduled for March 18.