Death row inmate Christa Pike wakes after botched execution in US
Death row inmate Christa Pike has regained consciousness following a botched lethal injection attempt in Tennessee. Her legal team is now seeking to preserve evidence as they argue the incident constitutes cruel and unusual punishment.
Why it matters
The case raises significant legal and ethical questions regarding the death penalty, the reliability of execution protocols, and the constitutional protections against cruel punishment.
Death row inmate Christa Pike has woken up and is speaking almost a week after a botched execution attempt at a Tennessee prison.
"Against all odds, Christa Pike is conscious, speaking and continues to receive critical medical care," her attorney said.
"Despite the severe damage she endured to her arms, she is still handcuffed and shackled to the bed."
Pike, 50, was rushed to hospital following two doses of the lethal injection drug pentobarbital, inside the death chamber at Nashville's Riverbend Maximum Security Institution.
She was sentenced to death in 1996 for the killing of classmate Colleen Slemmer, 19, when Pike was 18 years old.
Joel Zivot, a professor of anaesthesiology and surgery in Atlanta who consulted as an expert for Pike's legal team, said the development "bodes well for a good recovery".
Also covering this story
9 other newsrooms covered this event. We read each version separately.
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Christa Pike is awake and speaking after failed execution, lawyers say
Christa Pike 'conscious and talking' after botched execution
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