Death row inmate wakes after botched execution in Tennessee
Inmate Christa Pike, 50, woke and spoke almost a week after a failed execution. Her lawyers said this recovery has never happened before.
Christa Pike woke up at a Tennessee hospital almost a week after receiving two doses of the lethal injection drug pentobarbital in the death chamber at Riverbend Maximum Security Institution. Her arms suffered severe damage from the injection attempt.
Pike is now conscious and speaking and continues to get serious medical care. Pike was sentenced to death in 1996 for killing classmate Colleen Slemmer, 19, when Pike was 18.
Pike's attorneys are seeking a court order to preserve evidence about what went wrong. Some legal experts disagree on whether Tennessee can try execution again.
Some argue Pike has satisfied the legal standard for cruel and unusual punishment. Others suggest she has a strong double-jeopardy claim since the state completed every step of the execution process.
A medical expert consulting for Pike's team said her recovery is good news. But she warned Pike remains at serious risk.
Full recovery could take weeks or months.
- Christa Pike, 50
- Inmate age
- Almost a week before waking
- Time since execution
Why it mattersThe case raises urgent legal questions about whether a US state can try execution again after a failed attempt. It also calls into question the use of lethal injection.
AustraliaNo direct Australian effect, but the case will shape international debate on capital punishment and execution methods.
Corroborated bysmh.com.au·smh.com.au
✓ Claims checked against the source and corrected before publish. checked 3 h ago
Open this story in InSnip →
