Main content

Death Penalty

Why more than 50 countries around the world still execute certain criminals.

More than four billion people live in countries which retain the death penalty. Mike Williams asks why more than 50 countries around the world still execute certain criminals. What is the death penalty for and how is it carried out? He talks to a former American prison officer who presided over 33 executions in the US state of Ohio and asks whether he has any regrets. He also speaks to a Nigerian former death row prisoner who escaped the gallows with just seconds to spare. And he hears from a lawyer in Indonesia where two convicted Australian drug traffickers are awaiting execution.

Produced by Caroline Bayley

(Photo: The Texas death chamber in Huntsville, Texas. Credit to: Joe Raedle/Newsmakers)

Available now

18 minutes

Last on

Sun 22 Mar 2015 05:32GMT
Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ World Service Online

More episodes

Previous

Forgetting

Next

The Refugee Journey

See all episodes from The Why Factor

Broadcasts

  • Sat 21 Mar 2015 14:32GMT
    Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ World Service Online
  • Sat 21 Mar 2015 23:32GMT
    Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ World Service Online
  • Sun 22 Mar 2015 05:32GMT
    Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ World Service Online

Get the podcast

Subscribe or download individual episodes for free

Why do we look the way we do?

Tattoos, trainers, jeans, hair, ties ... why?

Podcast

  • The Why Factor

    The extraordinary and hidden histories behind everyday objects and actions