Christa Pike Survives Failed US Execution
Christa Pike, sentenced to death for a 1995 killing, survived a failed execution in the US. She and her boyfriend had tortured and stabbed a 19-year-old classmate, and Pike was 18 at the time. The victim's mother had travelled from Florida to witness the execution.
Context
Context: The US death penalty is carried out state by state, and executions sometimes face legal challenges or technical problems. Women make up a small share of people sentenced to death in the US, so Pike's case draws attention to how the penalty is applied.
Burning Potato score: 61%