NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) – Oscar Smith, a death row inmate in Tennessee, is once again facing execution just over three years after a near-execution was halted by Governor Bill Lee due to issues with lethal injection drugs. Smith's execution is now scheduled, and he has openly expressed feelings of despair over his prolonged time on death row, which he described as “more than hell.”

During a recent phone interview, Smith reflected on the difficult conditions at the Riverbend Maximum Security Institution in Nashville, where he is held. He accused prison officials of failing to adhere to established policies. As his execution date approaches, Smith has requested that his family refrain from witnessing it, stating, “they don’t need to see anything like that.”

Smith, 75, was convicted in 1990 for the murder of his estranged wife, Judith Smith, and her two sons, Jason and Chad, aged 13 and 16, in their Nashville home on October 1, 1989. He received a death sentence from a Davidson County jury the following year. While some victims’ family members plan to be present at the execution, the relatives of Smith opted not to participate in interviews regarding the matter.

Taking solace in a personal minister's presence during the execution, Smith expressed concern for her well-being. He said, “I’m having a real hard time adjusting to the idea of having a young lady in the execution chamber. She doesn’t need any bad experiences.”

Smith is set to be the first inmate executed in Tennessee using a newly adopted lethal injection process, which utilizes a single dose of the barbiturate pentobarbital. Although this method has been implemented by other states and the federal government, it has faced scrutiny, especially after a review under President Joe Biden’s administration. The review led to a halt in its use for federal executions due to concerns regarding the potential for “unnecessary pain and suffering.”

Smith is currently involved in litigation against the Tennessee Department of Correction (TDOC) concerning the updates to execution protocols. He claims that the TDOC failed to follow the recommendations from an independent investigation initiated by Governor Lee in 2022. However, the trial concerning this lawsuit is scheduled for January, which is too late to alter the imminent execution. Governor Lee has indicated that he plans for the execution process to proceed as scheduled.

While lethal injection is Tennessee’s preferred method of execution, some inmates have opted for the electric chair, believing it to be quicker and less painful. Smith, however, declined to make a choice, stating that his religious beliefs prevent him from participating in any way that could be construed as facilitating his own death.

Despite his claims of innocence, Smith has faced rejections from the courts regarding requests to reopen his case. A Davidson County Criminal Court judge recently denied his petition to do so, despite new DNA evidence pointing to the presence of an unknown person on one of the murder weapons. Smith feels frustrated that he is unable to present this evidence in court, insisting that he deserves a new trial and a chance to be deemed innocent by a jury.

As the execution date nears, Smith has expressed his bewilderment at society’s fascination with executions, likening it to “going back to medieval times.” He questions the morality of spectators wishing to witness the taking of a life, highlighting the paradox of such events occurring in a supposedly civilized society.