Florida killer's execution is cancelled after Christa Pike's botched injections

Florida killer's execution is cancelled after Christa Pike's botched injections William Lee Thompson, 74, was due to be executed by lethal injection in Florida on Tuesday for the murder and kidnapping of Sally Ivester in 1976 The execution of a murderer in Florida has been dramatically called off, just days before it was due to take place. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has withdrawn a death warrant for the first time since taking office. William Lee Thompson, 74, was scheduled to die by lethal injection in America's busiest death chamber on Tuesday for the murder and kidnapping of Sally Ivester in 1976. The Republican governor, who has aggressively used the death penalty in his final term, signed a letter Thursday withdrawing the death warrant for Thompson. A second Florida execution scheduled for the same day is still set to take place. James Robertson, 63, pleaded guilty to first-degree murder and waived all appeals in the 2008 strangling of Frank Hart while the men were cellmates at Charlotte Correctional Institution, north of Fort Myers. Robertson told investigators he killed the other man so he could be moved to death row. DeSantis did not provide a reason in the letter for withdrawing Thompson's death warrant but had temporarily stayed his execution last month pending a psychiatric evaluation. Florida prison officials, however, had still been preparing for Thompson's potential execution next week. Thompson's attorney, Bri Lacy, said they're relieved by the result. "Mr. Thompson suffers from dementia and his health is failing - both of which were gravely concerning with an impending execution," Lacy said in an email. "Now that Mr. Thompson is no longer under a death warrant, we hope FDOC (Florida Department of Corrections) will relocate him to an adequate medical facility and provide the care he needs." Thompson will remain on Florida's death row, and a new death warrant could be signed for him in the future. The move comes at a time of escalating attention on the death penalty in the U.S. In Tennessee, Christa Pike survived an execution attempt last week despite receiving two lethal doses of pentobarbital. She was rushed to hospital and woke up this week. Her lawyers confirmed she was making a slow recovery, managing to eat for the first time and regaining mobility in her arms. She has also taken her first assisted steps. And on Thursday, the Pentagon announced that the firing squad execution of Fort Hood shooter Nidal Malik Hasan would be livestreamed.