'We could all hear her breathing': Witnessing the failed execution of Christa Pike

Catherine Sweeney was in the witness room when Tennessee attempted to execute Christa Pike on Sept. 30. An attempted execution in May had also failed. Here's what Sweeney saw and heard.

<img src='https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/4457x2972+0+0/resize/4457x2972!/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fa0%2F9f%2Fc7d5542a49389ecd43645d75afea%2Fap26274095205700.jpg' alt='Public radio reporter Catherine Sweeney, one of the media witnesses, recounts the moments before the execution of Christa Pike was halted last Wednesday, Sept. 30. (AP Photo/George Walker IV) Flanking the podium are two photos of Colleen Slemmer, Pike's victim in the 1995 murder.'/><p>Catherine Sweeney was in the witness room when Tennessee attempted to execute Christa Pike on Sept. 30. An attempted execution in May had also failed. Here's what Sweeney saw and heard. </p><p>(Image credit: George Walker IV)</p><img src='https://media.npr.org/include/images/tracking/npr-rss-pixel.png?story=nx-s1-5991669' />