Benjamin Mueller and Shaila Dewan in NYT: ‘The execution team went through at least seven needles trying to find a vein suitable for delivering doses of a lethal drug to Tennessee inmate Christa Pike, her lawyers said on Thursday. Ms. Pike, who survived the botched execution on Wednesday night, was left with blistering and burning around the intravenous insertion sites.’

And: ‘During the execution attempt, they added, Ms. Pike even tried to help the staff place the two IV lines.’

As well: ‘The possibility that Ms. Pike had suffered the effects of a nonfatal dose of pentobarbital for an extended period created a risk for lasting brain injury.’

In Georgia in Soviet times, four young men were sentenced to death after their attempt to hijack a plane failed.

Their parents had to pay for the bullets. In one instance they had to pay for two bullets. The first one missed.

(a sf 2249)