World
Supreme Court clears Tennessee execution of Christa Pike
BBC News··1 Oct
The US Supreme Court cleared the way for Christa Pike, 50, to become the first woman executed in Tennessee in more than 200 years. Justices overturned a morning appeals court reprieve about an hour before her scheduled lethal injection. Justice Brett Kavanaugh granted an evening order to vacate the stay. Justices Sonia Sotomayor, Elena Kagan and Ketanji Brown Jackson dissented.
Prism
What It Means For You
- Tennessee's execution order was due to expire at midnight local time after the ruling.
- If time ran out, the state Supreme Court would need a new execution date, reports said.
- Pike was sentenced to death in 1996 for killing Colleen Slemmer at age 18.
What's Happening
- The Sixth Circuit had paused the execution earlier Wednesday for further review.
- Tennessee's attorney general asked the Supreme Court to overrule the lower court.
- Governor Bill Lee denied a clemency request this week, reports said.
A Reprieve Overturned
- Pike and Tadaryl Shipp were convicted of beating and killing Slemmer in 1996.
- Her lawyers disputed state claims about childhood sexual abuse at recent hearings.
- Tuesday's court had also rejected a separate appeal from Pike.
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