Christa Pike out of hospital and back in prison after botched execution attempt

Christa Pike has been discharged from the hospital following Tennessee's failed 30 September execution attempt, and she is back behind bars, her lawyers announced on Saturday. The 50-year-old, who has been imprisoned in the Deborah K Johnson rehabilitation center for the past three decades, is continuing to receive medical care at the prison, her attorneys stated.

Pike expressed her gratitude to first responders and her medical team for their care during the extraordinary circumstances. She was hospitalized after surviving the botched execution and was declared brain dead on Monday. However, by Thursday, Pike was reported to be "up and walking," though she was still somewhat disoriented and struggling with arm movement.

During the failed execution, Pike alleged that her arms burned and questioned whether such sensations were typical. Despite Tennessee's top prison official resigning in response to Pike's survival, and Governor Bill Lee pausing executions for the remainder of the year, Pike remains in prison. The shocking turn of events has drawn criticism of the death penalty, both domestically and internationally.

The Pentagon has confirmed that they will livestream the execution by firing squad of a former army psychiatrist convicted of the 2009 Fort Hood massacre, a decision that has drawn widespread condemnation from the United Nations.