Christa Pike walking in hospital after surviving Tennessee execution attempt
publishers 100articles 135first reported 1 Oct, 08:09 UTCdeveloping since 1 Oct · 20 editionstop 25 #18
Christa Pike is walking short distances in her hospital room after surviving Tennessee’s attempt to execute her by lethal injection on September 30, a member of her legal team said Wednesday. The lawyer, Stephen Ferrell, told the BBC that Pike remained mentally “foggy” and had serious injuries to her arms that limited their use.
Pike, 50, received two doses of pentobarbital during the execution attempt and was taken from the prison unconscious. Her attorneys said they had understood on Monday that she was brain-dead and life support would be withdrawn, but she regained consciousness and began speaking Tuesday. Another attorney, Randy Spivey, described her as angry and confused. Her prognosis remains uncertain, and her lawyers have said she may face a lengthy recovery.
At a hearing in Nashville, Chancery Court Judge I’Ashea Myles ordered Tennessee officials to preserve evidence connected to the failed execution. The order covers items and records including drugs, syringes, IV lines, recordings, witness accounts and emails. The state attorney general’s office said evidence from the execution chamber had already been collected and logged.
Medical and lethal-injection experts have raised the possibility that improperly placed or failed IV lines allowed the drug to enter Pike’s tissue rather than her bloodstream. Her lawyers said her arms were burned and blistered.
Governor Bill Lee called the incident “deeply disturbing,” paused Tennessee executions for the remainder of the year and ordered an independent review. Pike was sentenced to death for the 1995 beating and stabbing death of her classmate Colleen Slemmer.
HOW THIS STORY WAS MADE
Written from 8 articles, 6 with the publisher's own text; 8 independent newsrooms once syndicated copies count as one; this version written 170 h after the record first saw the story; the editor kept it as written.
- Publishers
- 100
- Source articles
- 135
- Given to the writer
- 8, 6 with the article's own text
- Independent newsrooms
- 8
- This version written
- 170 h after the record first saw the story
- Second model (editor)
- kept as written
- Publication gate
- passed
- Human review
- none
WHAT THE EDITOR DID
The second model checked the writer's draft against the same sources and published it as written.
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