Death row inmate wakes after failed execution, asks where she is
Christa Pike regained consciousness after two failed lethal injections in Tennessee.
Pike, 50, survived two supposedly fatal injections in Tennessee last week, 30 years after being sentenced to death for murdering a classmate in 1995. Christa Pike's lawyer said she was presumed brain-dead Monday night.
Life support was set to be removed Tuesday. Christa Pike woke unexpectedly and asked where she was.
Pike is angry and confused. She has severely swollen hands.
She has a blood clot in one arm. She has pneumonia.
She cannot move either arm and cannot swallow. Tennessee has paused all executions.
It has not said whether it will attempt to execute her again. The case is unprecedented.
Seven Americans previously survived execution attempts. But no drugs were given in those cases.
- 50 years old
- Pike's age
- 30 years
- Time since sentencing
- Colleen Slemmer, classmate
- Murder victim
- 1995, when Pike was 18
- Murder year
Why it mattersThe failed execution raises fundamental questions about whether the death penalty can be carried out humanely and whether states should attempt execution again in such cases.
AustraliaNo direct Australian effect, but the case is being covered widely in Australian media and reignites global debate on capital punishment.
Corroborated bythenightly.com.au·perthnow.com.au
✓ Claims checked against the source and corrected before publish. checked 2 h ago
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