What happened in the failed execution of Christa Pike - and what next?
BBC News reports on the failed execution of US convicted murderer, Christa Pike, and the subsequent questions and concerns it raises.
What happened?
Christa Pike, 50, was scheduled for execution on Wednesday for the 1996 murder of 19-year-old Colleen Slemmer. Tennessee authorities attempted to carry out the lethal injection, but Pike survived after two doses of the drug pentobarbital. Her legal team claims these injections failed to stop her heartbeat and that she was still heard snoring.
What happened next?
Pike was taken to an off-site medical facility and is receiving "life-saving measures." Her health status remains unclear. A review into the execution has been ordered by Governor Bill Lee, who has also halted executions in Tennessee for the rest of the year.
Key Questions and Concerns:
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What went wrong? The Tennessee Department of Correction defended its method but admitted its protocol did not explicitly outline what to do if an inmate remains alive after a second dose. Medical experts suggest Pike may not have reached a sufficient blood level of pentobarbital to cause her to stop breathing or experience heart failure.
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What happens next? The state has not provided a clear explanation. Pike's legal team expresses concern about potential brain damage due to delayed resuscitation. Her current condition remains unclear.
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Concerns about the death penalty: The failed execution has reignited debates about the death penalty, especially regarding the suffering of inmates during botched executions.