The difference between 'hanged' and 'hung'

The past tense of 'hang' can be 'hung' or 'hanged' and its past participle can be 'hung' or 'hanged' too.

When something is suspended, we use 'hung' for the past action. e.g. Christy hung her clothes on the rope to dry yesterday.

However, when someone was killed by suspending him by having a piece of rope round his throat until he died, we use 'hanged' to describe the action. e.g. The drug-pusher was hanged to death yesterday.