Alabama executes inmate for 1996 murder by lethal injection

Matthew Reeves, 43, put to death after divided US supreme court rejects claim that intellectual disability cost him chance of alternative execution method

Alabama executed an inmate by lethal injection for a 1996 murder on Thursday evening after a divided US supreme court sided with the state and rejected defense claims the man had an intellectual disability that cost him a chance to choose a less torturous", yet untried, execution method.

Matthew Reeves, 43, was put to death at Holman prison after the court lifted a lower court order that had prevented corrections workers from executing the prisoner. He was pronounced dead at 9.24pm CST, the state attorney general, Steve Marshall, said in a statement.