Christa Pike 'angry and confused' after failed execution, her lawyer says | BBC News

A BBC News report on Christa Pike, a 50-year-old death row inmate who survived a failed execution attempt last week. Following an emergency court hearing, her lawyers said preserving evidence from the attempt is only the first step in a long legal process. The judge ordered the state to preserve physical evidence such as IVs and syringes, along with communications and surveillance video. Her lawyers said this is needed for transparency and that the public should not simply accept the state's account. According to her lawyers, they believed Pike was brain dead the night before she woke up and began speaking, and that life support was to be removed the next day. They say she woke up "angry and confused" and asked where she was. Her recovery is expected to be long, and it is unclear whether she will regain function of her arms, which her lawyers describe as extremely swollen.

• Christa Pike, 50, survived a failed execution attempt last week
• An emergency court hearing ordered the state to preserve physical evidence and communications
• Her lawyers say they were told life support would be removed; she later woke up
• Her recovery is expected to be long; arm function is unclear

Following an emergency court hearing on Wednesday, Christa Pike’s lawyers said preserving evidence from her failed execution was just the first step in a long legal battle after the 50-year-old death row inmate survived an execution attempt last week. The judge ordered the state to preserve a broad range of physical evidence such as IVs and syringes – as well as all communications and surveillance video. Her lawyers said it was necessary for transparency – and that the public should not simply take the state’s word about what happened. The night before Pike woke up and began speaking, her lawyers said they believed she was brain dead and were told life support would be removed the next day. She woke up "angry and confused", they said, asking "where am I?". Her recovery, they added, will be a long road. It’s unclear if she’ll regain function of her arms which they say are extremely swollen. Subscribe to our channel here: https://bbc.in/bbcnews For the latest news download the BBC News app or visit BBC.com/news #BBCNews