Louisiana uses nitrogen gas for first time in death row execution

Killing of Jessie Hoffman Jr for 1996 rape and murder of Mary Elliott is state's first execution in 15 years

Louisiana has carried out its first execution using nitrogen gas, an experimental method for judicial killings that has only been used by one other death-penalty state.

Jessie Hoffman Jr, 46, was pronounced dead at the Louisiana state penitentiary at Angola at 6.50pm local time on Tuesday. He had been convicted of the 1996 rape and murder in New Orleans of Mary Molly" Elliott, a 28-year-old advertising executive.