Christa Pike regains consciousness after failed Tennessee execution attempt
Pike’s lawyers say she is speaking in hospital with severe injuries to both arms. Her prognosis is unclear, and a court hearing is scheduled for Wednesday.
Christa Pike has regained consciousness and begun speaking in hospital, six days after Tennessee’s failed lethal injection attempt, her lawyers said on Tuesday. She remains under medical care, and her recovery outlook is unclear.
Her lawyers said Pike, 50, has severe injuries to both arms and remains handcuffed and shackled to her hospital bed. They expect a long recovery. A hearing in Davidson County Chancery Court was scheduled for Wednesday.
The attempt took place on 30 September at Riverbend Maximum Security Institution in Nashville. According to court filings cited by France 24, prison officials stopped the procedure and called an ambulance after difficulties administering two doses of pentobarbital intravenously.
Pike’s lawyers allege officials disregarded medical warnings that her veins and a blood disorder could complicate the insertion of intravenous lines. The Tennessee Department of Correction said it followed the state’s established execution protocol.
Governor Bill Lee ordered a third-party review and suspended executions scheduled for the rest of the year. Corrections commissioner Frank Strada has resigned and is due to leave his post this month.
Pike was sentenced to death for her role in the 1995 killing of Colleen Slemmer. Lee denied her clemency petition last week.
