Trying to execute Christa Pike again would push into uncharted legal territory, experts say – Spectrum News

Trying to execute Christa Pike again would push into uncharted legal territory, experts say  Spectrum News

Pike, 50, suffered burns and blisters to her arms and her prognosis remains uncertain. After Christa Pike survived Tennessee's failed attempt to execute her, the unsettled question of whether the state will try again could push Tennessee into uncharted legal territory, experts say. Pike, 50, suffered burns and blisters to her arms and her prognosis remains uncertain after executioners tried to give her two lethal doses of pentobarbital, her legal team said Wednesday. She was sentenced to death for the 1995 beating and stabbing death of classmate Colleen Slemmer. Although other states have moved forward with attempting to execute inmates a second time, in those cases, the first try had been halted before any drug actually began flowing.

Outgoing Republican Gov. Bill Lee has paused executions in Tennessee and ordered an outside review of the failed Sept. 30 attempt to put Pike to death. His office did not immediately respond to emails seeking comment on whether the state would try again to execute her. Death penalty experts say it's hard to know what will happen if the state decides to move forward with a second attempt. "Whether or not it would be lawful for the state of Tennessee to attempt to execute her again is a complex question that will take significant time, attention and analysis of her defense team,