Statement on Tennessee’s Torturous Execution Attempt of Tony Carruthers

NASHVILLE – This morning, Tennessee carried out a botched and torturous attempt to execute Tony Carruthers despite the state’s continued refusal to conduct forensic testing that could prove he was wrongfully convicted. Legal witnesses reported that the state spent more than an hour attempting to set an IV line for the lethal drugs while Mr. Carruthers groaned in pain. After nearly 90 minutes, the execution was halted by a one-year reprieve from Governor Lee.

Maria DeLiberato, senior counsel at the ACLU’s Capital Punishment Project had the following statement:

“Permitting Tony Carruthers’s execution to move forward without ordering DNA testing was already a profound injustice. Today, that injustice became outright barbaric after Mr. Carruthers was subject to a botched execution attempt.

“We are incredibly relieved Governor Lee issued a reprieve. We will fight to ensure that the state never again attempts to put Mr. Carruthers and his family through this torture. More than 130,000 people have signed petitions joining us in this fight, including exonerees who once faced wrongful convictions themselves.

“We will also continue to push the governor to use this moment to allow the forensic testing that should have happened long ago. Tennessee cannot continue torturing a man while refusing to answer serious questions about his innocence.”