Christa Pike in hospital after execution 'failed'
Tennessee death row inmate Christa Pike was hospitalized following a botched execution attempt involving lethal injection. The event occurred shortly after the Supreme Court denied a stay of execution, sparking renewed controversy over capital punishment.
Why it matters
The failure of the state to carry out the execution as planned raises significant questions about the reliability and humaneness of lethal injection protocols.
TENNESSEE - Tennessee woman Christa Pike was in a hospital Thursday after authorities "failed" to carry out her execution, her lawyers said, with witnesses reporting the convicted murderer was breathing despite the injections intended to kill her.
Just hours earlier the US Supreme Court cleared the way for Pike to be the first woman to die by lethal injection in the southern US state of Tennessee in 200 years.
Tennessee corrections officials did not publicly confirm the outcome of the execution, which included two injections of pentobarbital, or respond to an AFP query seeking information.
"Tonight the State of Tennessee once again failed to carry out a lawful execution," Pike's attorneys said in a statement. "Christa is being treated at a nearby hospital. We have not been informed as to her condition."
Also covering this story
17 other newsrooms covered this event. We read each version separately.
After failed execution, health workers say Tennessee's method flouts medical ethics
U.S. Supreme Court clears way for Tennessee woman's imminent execution
Court halts Tennessee’s first execution of a woman in 200 years
U.S. appeals court halts Tennessee execution of Christa Pike
Tennessee woman in hospital after ‘failed’ execution
Execution of US murderer Christa Pike halted shortly before it was due to happen
US woman alive and heard loudly snoring after unprecedented failure of lethal injection
Execution of US murderer Christa Pike halted an hour before it was due to happen
US appeals court pauses execution of Tennessee killer Christa Pike, one hour before it was due to take place
US woman taken to hospital after surviving two lethal injections on death row
Tennessee To Execute First Woman In 200 Years: Inside Christa Pike Case
Tennessee unable to carry out woman's execution by lethal injection
Christa Pike’s execution by lethal injection fails in Tennessee
Christa Pike seeks firing squad, not lethal injection: Inside US executions - Al Jazeera
US Supreme Court sides with Tennessee to allow its first execution of a woman in 200 years
Tennessee to execute woman for first time in two centuries
Christa Pike survives two lethal injection doses as Tennessee execution fails
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in