Tennessee must preserve evidence related to Christa Pikes failed execution, judge rules
A Tennessee judge ruled Wednesday that the state must preserve any relevant evidence in connection with Christa Pike’s failed execution last week.“Today’s hearing was just a first step of many to preserve and enforce Christa’s constitutional rights after this unprecedented botched execution,” one of the attorneys, Luke Ihnen, said during a news conference after court Wednesday.“As I said repeatedly, we have not asked the state to turn over any evidence at this point,” he continued.
“Only demanding that they preserve it so that her lawyers, experts, and the public can learn what really happened Wednesday night.”Pike last week became the first person to survive two doses of a lethal drug injection after Tennessee failed to execute her for murdering her classmate three decades ago when she was 18.Doctors have told NBC News that it appeared most of the pentobarbital — the drug used in the lethal injection — entered her arm rather than her bloodstream, having enough power to put her to sleep but not to stop her heart or slow her breathing.
Pike, 50, was in the hospital, unconscious and on a ventilator, for six days when her lawyers said Tuesday she had woken up and was speaking.They did not disclose what she was talking about or what her current condition was.
“At a minimum, we expect a long recovery,” attorneys Randy Spivey and Kelly Gleason said in a statement Tuesday.Another of Pike’s attorneys, said Wednesday that she is “speaking limitedly.” For SubscribersFOR SUBSCRIBERSA Siberian town, and the world, remain in the dark after a lab worker dies of suspected plagueFOR SUBSCRIBERSCongress launches investigation into youth sports giant AAU’s handling of sexual abuseFOR SUBSCRIBERS‘Time makes you more hungry’: Hostage’s mom on grief 3 years after Oct.
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