Victim's mum reacts after lawyers say Christa Pike is 'conscious, speaking'

The mother of death row killer Christa Pike’s victim has spoken out after the murderer regained consciousness following her failed execution.

After lawyers issued a statement on Tuesday announcing Pike was ‘conscious, speaking’, May Martinez, mother of murder victim Colleen Slemmer said she had a feeling Pike would survive in an interview with NBC affiliate WBIR.

She said she does not believe Tennessee will attempt a second execution of her daughter’s killer.

When asked by WBIR whether it would be her preference for Pike to receive a lethal injection for the second time, she said: “It doesn’t matter what I think.”

“They’re going to do what they’re going to do,” she said.

Three people were involved in the 1995 killing of Colleen in Knoxville.

Christa Pike's lawyers have issued an update following her botched execution (Tennessee Department of Corrections)

In addition to Pike, Tadaryl Shipp, Pike’s then-boyfriend, was also convicted of first-degree murder and conspiracy to commit first-degree murder, however at the age of 17, he was still legally a minor and therefore ineligible for the death penalty. He received a term of life imprisonment instead.

The pair’s associate, Shadolla Peterson, 18 at the time of the killing, was convicted of being an accessory but was released after cooperating with police.

Pike was due to be executed on September 30, however after being injected with two doses of the poisonous drug pentobarbital, rather than die as expected, she was reported by witnesses to have begun whimpering and crying before eventually losing consciousness but surviving.

Death row killer Christa Pike refused what was supposed to be her last meal

She was transported by ambulance to the Vanderbilt University Medical Center, where she remained unconscious in critical condition and under heavy guard, lawyers confirmed.

“Tonight the State of Tennessee once again failed to carry out a lawful execution,” they said after the failed execution.

“We take no pleasure in being right, but the concerns raised by Ms. Pike proved to be true: difficult vein access, blown veins, degraded pentobarbital, no emergency medical care available when things inevitably go wrong, all under a protocol that remains veiled in secrecy.”

In their latest statement of October 6, her lawyers said, “Despite the severe damage she endured to her arms, she is still handcuffed and shackled to the bed.”

“Her recovery is medically unprecedented. Her prognosis remains unclear but, at a minimum, we expect a long recovery,” they said.

“We are incredibly grateful to the first responders and the medical team at the hospital who treated Christa like a human and have provided exceptional care to her. We also want to thank thousands from all over the world who sent messages offering prayers and support for Christa.”

Christa Pike revealed what lethal injection felt like in her body during botched execution

It remains unclear whether Pike will be subject to a second attempt at execution.

Vanderbilt Law School professor Christopher Slobogin told WSMV4: “Given what we know now, how she responds to lethal injection, and given what happened to her, Christa Pike’s lawyers have a pretty good argument that it would be a violation of the Eighth Amendment to execute her using [lethal injection].”