Episodes
| Episode | Title | First Broadcast | Repeated | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 02 | Killing Death Row: 1. The Hunt for Lethal Drugs | 20231013 | Join Livvy Haydock as she takes us deep into Death Row in the USA. While support for the Death Penalty in the US remains at over 50 per cent, there's been a steady decline in the number of executions - from the modern era peak of 98 in 1999 to just 20 in 2023 so far. Only a handful of states actually carry out the killings. It's even become more difficult for executioners to get hold of the drugs used in lethal injections, which is what led Livvy Haydock to a surreal story about a man in Acton, West London, who was supplying these lethal drugs to state penitentiaries in the US, and on to the macabre world of Death Row - and the people who live, work, and die on it.
Whether it's the bizarre hunt for new lethal injection supplies, or the tip of the glasses that mark an executioner's signal, Livvy goes right behind the scenes into the chamber itself to examine the pressures on the system that have left just 5 US states actively carrying out executions this year and around 2,400 Death Row prisoners in limbo. We'll hear from an inmate waiting to die, and one saved at the last moment. We'll chat to the wardens who make it happen, and the campaigners who want to stop it. And throughout it all, we'll discover the possible future for Death Row in the only western democracy still carrying out capital punishment.
New episodes released weekly. If you're in the UK, listen to Gangster Present | |
| 02 | Killing Death Row: 1. The Hunt For Lethal Drugs | 20231013 | 20231022 (R4) | Join Livvy Haydock as she takes us deep into Death Row in the USA. While support for the Death Penalty in the US remains at over 50 per cent, there's been a steady decline in the number of executions – from the modern era peak of 98 in 1999 to just 20 in 2023 so far. Only a handful of states actually carry out the killings. It's even become more difficult for executioners to get hold of the drugs used in lethal injections, which is what led Livvy Haydock to a surreal story about a man in Acton, West London, who was supplying these lethal drugs to state penitentiaries in the US, and on to the macabre world of Death Row – and the people who live, work, and die on it. Whether it's the bizarre hunt for new lethal injection supplies, or the tip of the glasses that mark an executioner's signal, Livvy goes right behind the scenes into the chamber itself to examine the pressures on the system that have left just 5 US states actively carrying out executions this year and around 2,400 Death Row prisoners in limbo. We'll hear from an inmate waiting to die, and one saved at the last moment. We'll chat to the wardens who make it happen, and the campaigners who want to stop it. And throughout it all, we'll discover the possible future for Death Row in the only western democracy still carrying out capital punishment. New episodes released weekly. If you're in the UK, listen to Gangster Presents - Killing Death Row first on BBC Sounds: BBC.in/40W5Chz Archive: KTVT-TV Presenter: Livvy Haydock Series producer: Anna Meisel Sounds design and mix: Richard Hannaford Editor: Clare Fordham Production coordinator: Janet Staples Could the US death penalty ever die out? Livvy Haydock investigates. The story of the Burger Bar Boys - a gang born out of the Handsworth riots in 1985. Could the US death penalty ever die out? A surreal story about a man in Acton, London who supplied the USA with lethal drugs tips Livvy Haydock into the macabre world of Death Row. Join Livvy Haydock as she takes us deep into Death Row in the USA. While support for the Death Penalty in the US remains at over 50 per cent, there's been a steady decline in the number of executions - from the modern era peak of 98 in 1999 to just 20 in 2023 so far. Only a handful of states actually carry out the killings. It's even become more difficult for executioners to get hold of the drugs used in lethal injections, which is what led Livvy Haydock to a surreal story about a man in Acton, West London, who was supplying these lethal drugs to state penitentiaries in the US, and on to the macabre world of Death Row - and the people who live, work, and die on it. Whether it's the bizarre hunt for new lethal injection supplies, or the tip of the glasses that mark an executioner's signal, Livvy goes right behind the scenes into the chamber itself to examine the pressures on the system that have left just 5 US states actively carrying out executions this year and around 2,400 Death Row prisoners in limbo. We'll hear from an inmate waiting to die, and one saved at the last moment. We'll chat to the wardens who make it happen, and the campaigners who want to stop it. And throughout it all, we'll discover the possible future for Death Row in the only western democracy still carrying out capital punishment. New episodes released weekly. If you're in the UK, listen to Gangster Present ~Killing Death Row [gangster] |
| 03 | Killing Death Row: 2. How to Kill the Killers | 20231013 | 20231029 (R4) | Welcome to the Allan Polunsky unit in Huntsville, Texas, where Livvy Haydock meets a murderer with three weeks to live. This killer will die by lethal injection; we talk to the inventor of that jab, and learn how it was hailed by some as a humane solution for a modern death penalty.
Join Livvy Haydock as she takes us deep into Death Row in the USA. While support for the Death Penalty in the US remains at over 50 per cent, there's been a steady decline in the number of executions - from the modern era peak of 98 in 1999 to just 20 in 2023 so far. Only a handful of states actually carry out the killings. It's even become more difficult for executioners to get hold of the drugs used in lethal injections, which is what led Livvy Haydock to a surreal story about a man in Acton, West London, who was supplying these lethal drugs to state penitentiaries in the US, and on to the macabre world of Death Row - and the people who live, work, and die on it.
Whether it's the bizarre hunt for new lethal injection supplies, or the tip of the glasses that mark an executioner's signal, Livvy goes right behind the scenes into the chamber itself to examine the pressures on the system that have left just 5 US states actively carrying out executions this year and around 2,400 Death Row prisoners in limbo. We'll hear from an inmate waiting to die, and one saved at the last moment. We'll chat to the wardens who make it happen, and the campaigners who want to stop it. And throughout it all, we'll discover the possible future for Death Row in the only western democracy still carrying out capital punishment.
Presenter: Livvy Haydock
Meeting a murderer on Death Row The story of the Burger Bar Boys - a gang born out of the Handsworth riots in 1985. |
| 03 | Killing Death Row: 2. How To Kill The Killers | 20231013 | 20231029 (R4) | Welcome to the Allan Polunsky unit in Huntsville, Texas, where Livvy Haydock meets a murderer with three weeks to live. This killer will die by lethal injection; we talk to the inventor of that jab, and learn how it was hailed by some as a humane solution for a modern death penalty. Join Livvy Haydock as she takes us deep into Death Row in the USA. While support for the Death Penalty in the US remains at over 50 per cent, there's been a steady decline in the number of executions – from the modern era peak of 98 in 1999 to just 20 in 2023 so far. Only a handful of states actually carry out the killings. It's even become more difficult for executioners to get hold of the drugs used in lethal injections, which is what led Livvy Haydock to a surreal story about a man in Acton, West London, who was supplying these lethal drugs to state penitentiaries in the US, and on to the macabre world of Death Row – and the people who live, work, and die on it. Whether it's the bizarre hunt for new lethal injection supplies, or the tip of the glasses that mark an executioner's signal, Livvy goes right behind the scenes into the chamber itself to examine the pressures on the system that have left just 5 US states actively carrying out executions this year and around 2,400 Death Row prisoners in limbo. We'll hear from an inmate waiting to die, and one saved at the last moment. We'll chat to the wardens who make it happen, and the campaigners who want to stop it. And throughout it all, we'll discover the possible future for Death Row in the only western democracy still carrying out capital punishment. Presenter: Livvy Haydock Series producer: Anna Meisel Sounds design and mix: Richard Hannaford Editor: Clare Fordham Production coordinator: Janet Staples Meeting a murderer on Death Row The story of the Burger Bar Boys - a gang born out of the Handsworth riots in 1985. Livvy Haydock considers the future of the US death penalty. She meets a murderer with three weeks to live, and learns the history of the lethal injection that will kill him. |
| 04 | Killing Death Row: 3. Inside The Chamber | 20231013 | What happens in the death chamber is a push and pull between the desire of a victim's family for justice, and the need to follow the letter of the constitution. In this episode we'll see how the system tried to balance those needs. Former prison guards show us the final hours of a prisoner's life. What does that tell us about the future of the US death penalty? Join Livvy Haydock as she takes us deep into Death Row in the USA. While support for the Death Penalty in the US remains at over 50 per cent, there's been a steady decline in the number of executions - from the modern era peak of 98 in 1999 to just 20 in 2023 so far. Only a handful of states actually carry out the killings. It's even become more difficult to get hold of lethal injection drugs, which is what led Livvy to a surreal story about a man in West London, who was supplying these ingredients to state penitentiaries in the US, and on to the macabre world of Death Row - and the people who live, work, and die on it. Whether it's the bizarre hunt for new lethal injection supplies, or the tip of the glasses that mark an executioner's signal, Livvy goes behind the scenes into the chamber itself to examine the pressures on the system that have left just 5 US states actively carrying out executions this year and around 2,400 Death Row prisoners in limbo. We'll hear from an inmate waiting to die, and one saved at the last moment. We'll chat to the wardens who make it happen, and campaigners who want to stop it. And throughout, we'll discover the possible future for Death Row in the only western democracy still carrying out capital punishment. New episodes released weekly. If you're in the UK, listen to Gangster Present | |
| 04 | Killing Death Row: 3. Inside The Chamber | 20231013 | 20231105 (R4) | What happens in the death chamber is a push and pull between the desire of a victim's family for justice, and the need to follow the letter of the constitution. In this episode we'll see how the system tried to balance those needs. Former prison guards show us the final hours of a prisoner's life. What does that tell us about the future of the US death penalty? Join Livvy Haydock as she takes us deep into Death Row in the USA. While support for the Death Penalty in the US remains at over 50 per cent, there's been a steady decline in the number of executions – from the modern era peak of 98 in 1999 to just 20 in 2023 so far. Only a handful of states actually carry out the killings. It's even become more difficult to get hold of lethal injection drugs, which is what led Livvy to a surreal story about a man in West London, who was supplying these ingredients to state penitentiaries in the US, and on to the macabre world of Death Row – and the people who live, work, and die on it. Whether it's the bizarre hunt for new lethal injection supplies, or the tip of the glasses that mark an executioner's signal, Livvy goes behind the scenes into the chamber itself to examine the pressures on the system that have left just 5 US states actively carrying out executions this year and around 2,400 Death Row prisoners in limbo. We'll hear from an inmate waiting to die, and one saved at the last moment. We'll chat to the wardens who make it happen, and campaigners who want to stop it. And throughout, we'll discover the possible future for Death Row in the only western democracy still carrying out capital punishment. New episodes released weekly. If you're in the UK, listen to Gangster Presents - Killing Death Row first on BBC Sounds: BBC.in/40W5Chz Presenter: Livvy Haydock Series producer: Anna Meisel Sounds design and mix: Richard Hannaford Editor: Clare Fordham Production coordinator: Janet Staples What a modern execution might tell us about the future of the death penalty. The story of the Burger Bar Boys - a gang born out of the Handsworth riots in 1985. How can the death penalty process balance the idea of “an eye for an eye ? with the United States constitution? Prison guards take us into the chamber to find out. What happens in the death chamber is a push and pull between the desire of a victim's family for justice, and the need to follow the letter of the constitution. In this episode we'll see how the system tried to balance those needs. Former prison guards show us the final hours of a prisoner's life. What does that tell us about the future of the US death penalty? Join Livvy Haydock as she takes us deep into Death Row in the USA. While support for the Death Penalty in the US remains at over 50 per cent, there's been a steady decline in the number of executions - from the modern era peak of 98 in 1999 to just 20 in 2023 so far. Only a handful of states actually carry out the killings. It's even become more difficult to get hold of lethal injection drugs, which is what led Livvy to a surreal story about a man in West London, who was supplying these ingredients to state penitentiaries in the US, and on to the macabre world of Death Row - and the people who live, work, and die on it. Whether it's the bizarre hunt for new lethal injection supplies, or the tip of the glasses that mark an executioner's signal, Livvy goes behind the scenes into the chamber itself to examine the pressures on the system that have left just 5 US states actively carrying out executions this year and around 2,400 Death Row prisoners in limbo. We'll hear from an inmate waiting to die, and one saved at the last moment. We'll chat to the wardens who make it happen, and campaigners who want to stop it. And throughout, we'll discover the possible future for Death Row in the only western democracy still carrying out capital punishment. New episodes released weekly. If you're in the UK, listen to Gangster Present ~Killing Death Row [gangster] |
| 05 | Killing Death Row: 4. Who Cares If It Hurts? | 20231013 | If a lethal injection death is considered to be painful, that could make it vulnerable to a legal challenge as unconstitutional. What can the death of Corey Johnson tell us about the pain of a lethal injection, and does proof of pain hold sway in any US court, or indeed in the court of public opinion? Livvy Haydock heads out on the road to talk to Texans., and deep into Death Row in the USA. While support for the Death Penalty in the US remains at over 50 per cent, there's been a steady decline in the number of executions - from the modern era peak of 98 in 1999 to just 20 in 2023 so far. Only a handful of states actually carry out the killings. It's even become more difficult for executioners to get hold of the drugs used in lethal injections, which is what led Livvy Haydock to a surreal story about a man in West London, who was supplying these drugs to state penitentiaries in the US, and on to the macabre world of Death Row - and the people who live, work, and die on it. Whether it's the hunt for new lethal injection supplies, or the tip of the glasses that mark an executioner's signal, Livvy goes right behind the scenes into the chamber itself to examine the pressures on the system that have left just 5 US states actively carrying out executions this year and around 2,400 Death Row prisoners in limbo. We'll hear from an inmate waiting to die, and one saved at the last moment. We'll chat to the wardens who make it happen, and the campaigners who want to stop it. And throughout, we'll discover the possible future for Death Row in the only western democracy still carrying out capital punishment. New episodes released weekly. If you're in the UK, listen to Gangster Present | |
| 05 | Killing Death Row: 4. Who Cares If It Hurts? | 20231013 | 20231112 (R4) | If a lethal injection death is considered to be painful, that could make it vulnerable to a legal challenge as unconstitutional. What can the death of Corey Johnson tell us about the pain of a lethal injection, and does proof of pain hold sway in any US court, or indeed in the court of public opinion? Livvy Haydock heads out on the road to talk to Texans., and deep into Death Row in the USA. While support for the Death Penalty in the US remains at over 50 per cent, there's been a steady decline in the number of executions – from the modern era peak of 98 in 1999 to just 20 in 2023 so far. Only a handful of states actually carry out the killings. It's even become more difficult for executioners to get hold of the drugs used in lethal injections, which is what led Livvy Haydock to a surreal story about a man in West London, who was supplying these drugs to state penitentiaries in the US, and on to the macabre world of Death Row – and the people who live, work, and die on it. Whether it's the hunt for new lethal injection supplies, or the tip of the glasses that mark an executioner's signal, Livvy goes right behind the scenes into the chamber itself to examine the pressures on the system that have left just 5 US states actively carrying out executions this year and around 2,400 Death Row prisoners in limbo. We'll hear from an inmate waiting to die, and one saved at the last moment. We'll chat to the wardens who make it happen, and the campaigners who want to stop it. And throughout, we'll discover the possible future for Death Row in the only western democracy still carrying out capital punishment. New episodes released weekly. If you're in the UK, listen to Gangster Presents - Killing Death Row first on BBC Sounds: BBC.in/40W5Chz Presenter: Livvy Haydock Series producer: Anna Meisel Sounds design and mix: Richard Hannaford Editor: Clare Fordham Production coordinator: Janet Staples How pain can be a problem for the US death penalty. The story of the Burger Bar Boys - a gang born out of the Handsworth riots in 1985. How proof of pain in lethal injection might make it vulnerable to a legal challenge as unconstitutional. |
| 06 | Killing Death Row: 5. What's The Cost? | 20231013 | 20231119 (R4) | The people of Jasper sought the death penalty for the brutal men who murdered James Byrd. But the cost of the trial was crippling and served as a warning to other small districts. In this episode, we'll examine how cost plays a part in the number of US executions, as does a better understanding of institutional racism. Join Livvy Haydock as she takes us deep into Death Row in the USA. While support for the Death Penalty in the US remains at over 50 per cent, there's been a steady decline in executions – from the modern era peak of 98 in 1999 to just 20 in 2023 so far. Only a handful of states actually carry out the killings. It's even become more difficult for executioners to get hold of the drugs used in lethal injections, which is what led Livvy Haydock to a surreal story about a man in Acton, West London, who was supplying these lethal drugs to state penitentiaries in the US, and on to the macabre world of Death Row – and the people who live, work, and die on it. Whether it's the hunt for new lethal injection supplies, or the tip of the glasses that mark an executioner's signal, Livvy goes right behind the scenes into the chamber itself to examine the pressures on the system that have left just 5 US states actively carrying out executions this year and around 2,400 Death Row prisoners in limbo. We'll hear from an inmate waiting to die, and one saved at the last moment. We'll chat to the wardens who make it happen, and the campaigners who want to stop it. And throughout it all, we'll discover the possible future for Death Row in the only western democracy still carrying out capital punishment. New episodes released weekly. If you're in the UK, listen to Gangster Presents - Killing Death Row first on BBC Sounds: BBC.in/40W5Chz Archive: KTVT-TV Presenter: Livvy Haydock Series producer: Anna Meisel Researcher: Ella Rule Sounds design and mix: Richard Hannaford Editor: Clare Fordham Production coordinator: Janet Staples What a brutal racist murder reveals about the future of death row. The story of the Burger Bar Boys - a gang born out of the Handsworth riots in 1985. How do cost and race play a part in the future of the US death penalty? |
| 07 | Killing Death Row: 6. Living And Dying | 20231013 | 20231126 (R4) | An execution and the story of an exoneration. Livvy Haydock hears about the final moments of one life, and the relief and joy of release when a different case is overturned. In this final episode she considers the impact of a changing political landscape on the future of the death chamber. Join Livvy as she takes us deep into Death Row in the USA. While support for the Death Penalty in the US remains at over 50 per cent, there's been a steady decline in the number of executions – from the modern era peak of 98 in 1999 to just 20 in 2023 so far. Only a handful of states actually carry out the killings. It's even become more difficult for executioners to get hold of the drugs used in lethal injections, which is what led Livvy Haydock to a surreal story about a man in Acton, West London, who was supplying these lethal drugs to state penitentiaries in the US, and on to the macabre world of Death Row – and the people who live, work, and die on it. Whether it's the bizarre hunt for new lethal injection supplies, or the tip of the glasses that mark an executioner's signal, Livvy goes right behind the scenes into the chamber itself to examine the pressures on the system that have left just 5 US states actively carrying out executions this year and around 2,400 Death Row prisoners in limbo. We'll hear from an inmate waiting to die, and one saved at the last moment. We'll chat to the wardens who make it happen, and the campaigners who want to stop it. And throughout it all, we'll discover the possible future for Death Row in the only western democracy still carrying out capital punishment. New episodes released weekly. If you're in the UK, listen to Gangster Presents - Killing Death Row first on BBC Sounds: BBC.in/40W5Chz Presenter: Livvy Haydock Series producer: Anna Meisel Sounds design and mix: Richard Hannaford Editor: Clare Fordham Production coordinator: Janet Staples How one man dies and another gets his life back. The story of the Burger Bar Boys - a gang born out of the Handsworth riots in 1985. An execution, an exoneration, and how politics plays its part in the future of the death penalty. |