Christa Pike, Tennessee's only woman on death row, remained alive after two syringes of lethal drugs were administered during a botched execution attempt on Wednesday. Convicted in the 1995 torture and murder of classmate Colleen Slemmer, Pike was 18 at the time of the crime. Her boyfriend, Tadaryl Shipp, was sentenced to life in prison.
Pike, now 50, does not deny her guilt but her lawyers argue her history of abuse and mental health issues—including bipolar disorder and PTSD—were inadequately presented at trial. Experts like Robin Maher of the Death Penalty Information Center say she likely wouldn’t face the death penalty today. Colleen Slemmer’s mother, May Martinez, remains adamant that Pike cannot atone.
Pike’s lawyers challenged the execution on Eighth Amendment grounds, citing potential excessive pain. Gov. Bill Lee refused to intervene.
After a nine-hour delay and a brief federal.
Источник: New York Times Top Stories · Сводку подготовил HeadlinesBriefing