Jamaal Howard’s lawyers urged halt, citing risk of another failed execution, but court denied request

Texas on Wednesday is scheduled to carry out the first execution in the US after the the botched lethal injection of Christa Pike in Tennessee last week.

Lawyers for Jamaal Howard, a Texas man on death row for capital murder, sought to halt the execution, arguing there are similar risks as in the case of Pike, but a Texas court denied the stay request on Wednesday.

Lawyers for Christa Pike, who survived two lethal injections, gave updates on her condition, saying she is severely unwell, and ‘angry and confused about everything right now’. Following a court hearing on Wednesday, a judge ordered Tennessee officials to preserve all evidence from the botched execution

Christa Pike, a death row inmate who survived the state of Tennessee’s attempt to execute her last week, is conscious and speaking. The 50-year-old is recovering in hospital after surviving two lethal injections in a case that has shocked many in the US and prompted a debate about the death penalty. She was due to be the first woman executed in Tennessee in more than 200 years. Michael Safi speaks to the chief reporter for Guardian US, Ed Pilkington – watch on YouTube

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• Judge orders officials to preserve all evidence tied to Christa Pike’s botched execution

Christa Pike’s lawyers said that Pike remains shackled to her hospital bed.

“Based on our understanding, medical staff have asked that the shackles be removed and have been denied that request by [the Tennessee corrections department],” they said, adding: “We would also amend our request and ask for that relief.”