Tennessee prison chief resigns after failed Christa Pike execution

Tennessee Department of Correction Commissioner Frank Strada has resigned following the failed execution of death row inmate Christa Pike. Governor Bill Lee announced Strada's resignation on Saturday, stating that he would leave his position later this month.

The resignation comes after the botched execution of Christa Pike, who was given two doses of pentobarbital but survived and was taken to hospital in critical condition, unconscious and on a ventilator. This was the second failed execution in Tennessee this year, with another being halted in May after medical staff failed to tap a vein in the prisoner's arm.

Governor Bill Lee has halted further executions through the rest of the year while a review is conducted. According to the Daily Times, Strada said he believed the Department of Correction carried out its responsibilities in accordance with established protocol. Lee thanked Strada for "his willingness to put the interests of Tennesseans first during this difficult moment".

Brief written by urgent.news from Daily Times, Dawn, DW English (Top Stories), DW News, Punch Nigeria — 5 reports on this story. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.