Woman Facing Execution in Tennessee Deserves Clemency, Lawyers Say

A woman facing execution in the US state of Tennessee for killing a fellow student in 1995 deserves clemency, her lawyers argue, saying she would not have received a death sentence if the crime had occurred today.

Pike is the first woman to face execution in the state in 200 years. Her lawyers describe her as a victim as they seek to have her spared.

Their argument draws a distinction between her responsibility for the killing and whether execution is an appropriate punishment. They contend that a case arising from the same crime today would not end with a death sentence.

The clemency appeal seeks to prevent Pike’s execution for the 1995 killing. Her lawyers’ claim about how she would be sentenced today remains central to their call for mercy.