Lawyers representing convicted murderer Christa Pike have said the death row inmate was left with severe injuries after she survived two botched execution attempts in Tennessee, US, on Wednesday. As of late Thursday, they said, medics were still trying to clear the two doses of the lethal drug pentobarbital that were meant to kill her.
Details of injuries from court filing
The court filing provided the first detailed account of Pike's condition after she was rushed for emergency treatment. According to her representatives, both of Pike's arms were left horribly swollen, with burns and blistering caused by the drug. They compared the substance to bleach and other viscous chemicals, which can cause severe damage if they come into contact with skin.
The lawyers said they believe the IV lines were improperly administered, and the pentobarbital flowed into her body instead of her veins. Defence lawyer Randy Spivey said he counted at least seven needles in her left arm. The lawyers said: "Apparently at no point did any member of the execution team realise that the IV lines were not correctly placed or that the veins had blown and that the pentobarbital was, in whole or in part, entering Ms Pike’s body."
Second dose administered despite failure
Officials prepared and administered a second dose of the drug instead of "remedying this failure", the lawyers said. State officials have not offered any explanations about what went wrong.
The Tennessee Department of Correction said in a statement that it "followed every step of the State’s lawful, established execution protocol approved by the Attorney General’s Office". The state’s execution protocol calls for a secondary set of drug syringes to be administered "if the inmate is not deceased" after the first set. It does not spell out what happens if the subject is alive after the second set.
Governor orders review and postpones execution
Tennessee Governor Bill Lee said in a statement that he has ordered "a comprehensive, third-party review to determine exactly what occurred" and that the remaining scheduled execution will not take place this year. He said: "Carrying out a lawfully imposed sentence is among the State’s most serious responsibilities, and the people of Tennessee expect it to be done in a manner that is not only legal and constitutional, but is effective."
Pike’s attorneys asked a state court to order the Tennessee Department of Correction to preserve all evidence from the failed execution. They said in a statement: "Preserving this evidence is essential to understanding what happened, ensuring accountability and protecting Christa’s legal rights."
Pike was 18 when she and her boyfriend tortured and killed a classmate, Colleen Slemmer, in a jealous rage in 1995. She later became one of the youngest women to be sent to death row. Following the killing, Pike was diagnosed with bipolar disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder, her attorneys said. The mother of Ms Slemmer, who was 19 when she was killed, expressed frustration over the failed execution. She said: "I didn’t get justice for my daughter."
