Tennessee halted the execution of death row inmate Tony Carruthers after officials were unable to successfully establish an intravenous line for lethal injection over the course of more than an hour.

His attorney described repeated failed attempts to access veins in his arms, feet, and neck as painful and inhumane, alleging he was left bleeding and in distress.

The Tennessee Department of Corrections said staff followed protocol but could not establish a required backup line or complete a central line procedure, leading to the execution being called off.

Carruthers’ legal team argued the botched procedure amounted to cruel and unusual punishment and renewed claims that he may be innocent, CBS News has reported.

Bill Lee later issued a one-year reprieve, while maintaining the original death sentence tied to Carruthers’ 1994 murder convictions.