Christa Pike’s attempted execution fails as she is rushed to hospital after surviving two doses of lethal injection
Chaos in Tennessee as Christa Pike survives two doses of lethal injection
- Christa Pike, 50, survived an attempted execution by lethal injection in Tennessee after being administered two doses of pentobarbital.
- Pike, convicted of the 1995 murder of fellow student Colleen Slemmer, was set to become the first woman executed in the state in 200 years.
- The execution went ahead late on Wednesday after the US Supreme Court lifted a temporary legal stay in a 6-3 decision.
- Witnesses reported the execution chamber curtain was drawn twice before Pike was taken to hospital, where her lawyers confirmed she was receiving life-saving care.
- Her defence team condemned the state's procedure, citing issues including compromised vein access, degraded lethal drugs, and a lack of emergency medical planning.
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