US appeals court halts Tennessee execution of Christa Pike

A federal appeals court has temporarily halted the execution of Christa Pike, a Tennessee death row inmate, less than two hours before her scheduled lethal injection. The court granted a short stay while considering her argument that evidence of childhood sexual abuse was not properly weighed during her sentencing. Tennessee officials have appealed to the Supreme Court to lift the stay and proceed with the execution. Pike, 50, was sentenced to death for the 1995 murder of Colleen Slemmer, but her execution has been delayed pending review of her claims regarding her abusive childhood and mental health issues.