Tennessee makes 'no promises' to spare death row inmate Christa Pike in first court hearing since botched execution

The state of Tennessee may make a third attempt at the execution of Christa Pike, according to her legal team.

Lawyers representing the convicted killer have been in court on Wednesday (7 October), arguing that all evidence from her botched execution last week should be preserved.

While appearing before the judge, her lawyer Luke Inhen explained that his client has still not escaped the possibility of the lethal injection, despite two attempts failing last week.

Despite her attorneys previously arguing that this execution method could cause 'significant, excruciating pain' for Pike, the state went ahead with it last week - but she miraculously survived.

Pike, now 50, was supposed to become the first woman put to death in Tennessee in two centuries after being sent to prison for the 1995 murder of Colleen Slemmer.

Her execution via lethal injection was scheduled for 30 September and she was taken into the chamber as planned, where she said what she believed to be her final words.

Pike survived two lethal injections (Tennessee Department of Corrections)

However, she somehow survived two lethal injections and was rushed to hospital, leaving her fate unclear.

Pike's representatives have since said that she is 'conscious and speaking', while a doctor revealed what she has said since awaking from the failed execution.

"She has some memories of being in the hospital but no memory, I believe, of the execution attempt," Dr Joel Zivot, the anaesthesiologist advising her team told the BBC.

He said that she can recall her name and can communicate in a 'basic way'. Dr Zivot added that she had made an incorrect guess at the date, as she seemed to believe the month was still September.

During the court proceedings on Wednesday, Pike's legal team explained that the state have not taken another execution attempt off the table.

Inhen said that 'based on what we know about Ms Pike's current condition, these allegations in the complaint' seem to be 'related to the botched execution'.

"The state has made no promises that Ms Pike will not be subject to a future execution," he added.

Her lawyers have demanded that the state of Tennessee preserve all evidence related to the botched execution.

Inhen told the court that Pike was 'speaking limitedly' since waking up and said she has remained 'shackled to the bed', despite repeated requests for her to be unrestrained.

Pike's former lawyer James Crowson - who opposes the death penalty - told LADbible that he believes there is 'going to be a lot of pressure on the governor to grant clemency' in wake of her botched execution.