Tag: tennessee

Christi Pike, Tennessee


Let us not loose sight of this woman in a supposedly civilised nation

November 2026

Readers will recall that Christi Pike was intended to be executed a few weeks ago but after an hour spent trying to find a vein and two attempts, the curtains were pulled across and Christi was found to be still alive. She was rushed to hospital where she came back to life. She has now been returned to prison and is in solitary confinement and is in great pain. Medical experts have expressed shock at the incompetence of the process.

She was condemned to death for the violent murder in 1995 of Colleen Anne Slemmer. Christi has been in prison ever since that is over 30 years. The case has aroused great passions in the US and failings in the initial trial to tell the court of the profound abuse and trauma she experienced as a child has been criticised not least by Amnesty USA.

Many have urged the Tennessee governor, Bill Lee to commute her sentence which he has not so far done.

The death penalty aroused great passions in the US although support for it has declined according to various polls. It survives because several prominent politicians use it to claim that they are ‘tough on crime’. It has become a kind of metaphor enabling politicians to parade their supposed toughness by supporting this sentence. That it has little to do with the vast majority of crimes and criminality seems not to be noticed. Neither the fact that it is not a deterrent nor that hundreds have been exonerated demonstrating an unsatisfactory legal system seems to enter the narrative.

The US, alone in the Americas in using the penalty, joins regimes such as China, Iran and Saudi Arabia in continuing in using it.

Sources: The Tennessean, CBS, Daily Mail

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Execution of Christa Pike in Tennessee fails


Terrifying failure to execute Christa Pike in Tennessee

October 2026

It seems as far as Tennessee is concerned, actually executing someone is more difficult than might be supposed. Christa Pike was on the gurney and the supposedly lethal drugs were injected twice. Forty minutes later, she was heard snoring from behind a screen and was taken to hospital.

There seems no doubt that Christa committed the murder of a fellow 19 year old 30 years ago in 1995. She was sentenced to death at the time. As is common in America, the appeals process can take decades and last right up to the last moment. The latest appeal concerns how she was treated as a child with evidence of rape and sexual abuse.

There followed a tussle between the Tennessee Supreme Court and the US Supreme Court with the latter agreeing the execution could go ahead. Three justices dissented.

USA is the only country in the Americas still to retain the penalty and these events add a further twist to the campaign to end the penalty it including Tennesseans for Alternative to the Death Penalty. Amnesty is opposed to the penalty in all circumstances.

We may amend this post in the light of further developments. The failed execution has led to a storm of protest in the US.

Sources: Daily Mail, Daily Mirror, BBC, Guardian. We were unable to access the Tennessean.

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Christi Pike, Tennessee


Let us not loose sight of this woman in a supposedly civilised nation November 2026 Readers will recall that Christi Pike was intended to be executed a few weeks ago but after an hour spent trying to find a vein and two attempts, the curtains were pulled across and Christi was found to be still…

welland2's avatar by welland2
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World death penalty report


Report for mid July to mid August

August 2025

We are pleased to attach the latest report thanks to group member Lesley for the work in preparing it. As ever, we note that China does not appear despite possibly executing more of its citizens than the rest of the world combined but details are a state secret.

Report: mid-July – August (Word)Download

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Death penalty report


Iran features in this months report

July 2025

We are pleased to attach the latest report on the use of the death penalty around the world for the period

mid-June to mid-July thanks to group member Lesley for its production. Note that China does not appear because although it is believed to execute more of its citizens than the rest of the world put together, details are a state secret.

Picture of prisoners lining up to be executed in Iran.

Report June July (Word)Download
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Mid-May to Mid-June Report Highlights


June 2025

We are pleased to attach the report for the period mid-May to mid-June thanks to group member Lesley for the work in compiling it. It is longer than usual reflecting the increasing activity in the US following President Trump’s actions on the use of the penalty. As ever, we must point out that the world’s biggest user of the penalty – China – who is believed to execute thousands of its citizens, is not present in the report because details are a state secret.

Report: May June (Word)Download
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Monthly death penalty report


We are pleased to attach our monthly death penalty report compiled by group member Lesley.

Report: February – March (Word)

 

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Death penalty report: Nov – Dec


We are pleased to attach our latest monthly death penalty report compiled by group member Lesley.  In addition to matters around the world, we mention worries about the Conservative government, if, as expected, they assume power on Friday after the election.  The present Home Secretary, Priti Patel is committed to toughening sentencing and has said she wishes to see the reintroduction of the penalty in the UK.  She denies that this is the case.  We quote survey statistics to show that it is still a desired outcome for many people, especially for those who voted leave in the EU Referendum.

Note as ever that China is the world’s largest executioner of its citizens but the data is a state secret.

November – December Report (Word)

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