Tennessee Governor Bill Lee announced on 1/10 that he had signed an order suspending all executions planned for this year. This decision followed the unsuccessful execution of death row inmate Christa Pike at a Nashville prison on the night of 30/9.

Governor Lee had denied Pike's clemency request earlier this week, prior to her scheduled execution. However, after receiving two doses of pentobarbital, the 50-year-old's heart continued to beat, and she was rushed to an emergency hospital.

Governor Lee ordered state authorities to launch a comprehensive, third-party investigation into the execution. "We need to clarify this and implement necessary changes to meet the expectations of the state's residents," Lee stated.

Pike's attorneys described the execution as a "horrific spectacle," impacting not only their client but also witnesses at the Nashville prison.

Death row inmate Christa Pike at Knox County Criminal Court, Tennessee on 4/12/2007. Photo: Reuters

Pike's legal team speculated that during the injection process, the needle may have missed or punctured a vein. They acknowledged, however, their lack of medical expertise.

Attorney Randy Spivey reported that inserting the needle into Pike's vein took approximately one hour. He counted seven needle marks on her left arm, noting that "one of them appeared to be bent" upon withdrawal.

Tennessee state protocol dictates that if an inmate is not deceased after the first dose, a second dose is administered. Pike's attorneys observed that after the second injection, she lost consciousness but her heart continued to beat, accompanied by distinct snoring.

With no clear regulations on how to proceed if an inmate is still breathing after two doses, Pike was transported to an emergency hospital. She is currently in critical condition but remains alive.

The Tennessee Department of Correction stated that it had "followed all steps in the state's established and legally approved execution protocol, which was sanctioned by the Attorney General's office."

"Last night was not merely a procedural failure; it was an act of cruelty and torture," attorney Spivey added. He urged Governor Lee to commute Pike's sentence to life imprisonment.

Pike's legal team has worked for years to commute her death sentence to life imprisonment without parole. They argue she was a victim of childhood violence, neglect, and sexual abuse. Additionally, they cite medical diagnoses received during her incarceration, which include bipolar disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Lower courts had previously granted a stay of execution to consider additional mitigating circumstances. However, the US Supreme Court on 30/9 rejected this order, clearing the way for Tennessee to proceed with the execution.

Pike is the first woman executed in Tennessee in over 200 years. In 1996, she received a death sentence for her involvement with her boyfriend in the torture and murder of 19-year-old Colleen Slemmer, whom they believed to be a "love rival".

Hoang Lan (According to New York Times, AP)