Alabama has scheduled the execution of Geoffrey Todd West, a man convicted of murdering a convenience store clerk during a robbery in 1997. The execution will take place on September 25, 2025, and will be carried out using nitrogen gas, a controversial method that has raised concerns and international protests.
Details of the Crime
Geoffrey Todd West, 49, is on death row for the killing of Margaret Parrish Berry, a 33-year-old convenience store clerk. In 1997, West, intending to rob Harold’s Chevron in Attalla—where he had previously worked—shot Berry in the back of the head while she was lying behind the counter.
Prosecutors reported that $250 was stolen from the store’s cookie can. West was convicted of capital murder, and a jury recommended the death sentence by a 10-2 vote. A judge later upheld the jury’s decision.
In 1999, Etowah County Circuit Judge William Cardwell, while sentencing West, stated that executing a young man was difficult but justified, given the “deliberate and intentional” nature of the crime.
Execution by Nitrogen Gas
West’s execution will be the latest to use nitrogen gas, a method Alabama has recently adopted for executions. Nitrogen gas is pumped through a face mask, depriving the inmate of oxygen and causing death.
This method, first used in Alabama in 2024, has been controversial. Alabama is the first state to use nitrogen gas for executions, with six executions carried out using this method so far, including one in Louisiana.
Supporters of nitrogen gas argue that it is a painless and instant way to carry out an execution, while critics argue that it is untested and could be a form of torture. The method has sparked protests worldwide, including from the Vatican, which condemned its use in 2024.
Legal Context and Impact
West was one of several Alabama inmates who chose nitrogen gas as their preferred execution method after state lawmakers authorized its use. This decision was made before Alabama had fully developed procedures for executing prisoners with nitrogen.
As West’s execution date approaches, the debate over the ethics and practicality of nitrogen gas continues. While some see it as a humane alternative, others remain deeply concerned about its potential for causing unnecessary suffering.
