Reporter on what it was like to watch Christa Pike's failed execution | BBC News

In a compelling new interview, veteran investigative reporter John North recounts his unforgettable experience of witnessing the failed execution attempt of death row inmate Christa Pike. Pike was sentenced to death in Tennessee after the brutal 1995 murder of student Colleen Slemmer. For years, her case has remained one of the state's most notorious criminal stories. As an official media witness, John North was granted access to events unfolding inside the prison during the state's attempt to carry out Pike's execution – which did not go to plan. The Tennessee Department of Correction has not explained why the execution did not go as planned, though it has defended the method it used. It declined comment on Pike's statement when contacted by the BBC. This programme includes details of the process of an execution you may find upsetting. You can watch more episodes of It Happened to Me on BBC iPlayer. Subscribe to our channel here: https://bbc.in/bbcnews For the latest news download the BBC News app or visit BBC.com/news #BBCNews