A member of the notorious 'Texas 7' gang of escaped prisoners has won a stay from execution - because a Buddhist priest wasn't allowed in the execution chamber.
Patrick Murphy, 57, was convicted of the fatal shooting of a Dallas police officer during a Christmas Eve robbery 18 years ago.
He had been scheduled to be put to death at the state penitentiary in Huntsville, Texas, at 6pm on Thursday.
The US Supreme Court blocked the lethal injection of Murphy after attorneys for the prisoner argued a Buddhist priest should be with him.
Justice Brett Kavanaugh, who ruled the decision, said inmates of non-Christian or Muslim religious denominations can only have the adviser present only in the viewing room - and not in the execution chamber.
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The department only allows prison employees in the death chamber - and only employs Christian and Muslim clerics.
But Mr Kavanaugh said the Constitution prohibits such denominational discrimination.
Murphy's lawyer, David Dow, said Thursday: 'We are pleased the Supreme Court acknowledged...that Mr Murphy as a Buddhist is entitled to be accompanied in the execution chamber during the execution by a minister of his own faith.'
Murphy was part of the seven inmates who escaped from a South Texas prison in December 2000 and committed multiple robberies and killed Irving police officer Aubrey Hawkins.
Four other 'gang members' have already been executed, while one killed himself when police caught up to them in Colorado.
One other remains on death row with Murphy.
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A month before scheduled execution date, Murphy's lawyers filed a request to allow his Buddhist priest into the execution chamber with him, but the Texas Department of Criminal Justice declined due to policy, Texas Tribune reports.
The department did not respond to a follow-up request and just days before the execution, the lawyers took the issue to the courts, claiming the policy violated his rights.
Lower state and federal courts rejected the appeal, claiming it was filed too late.
But in a surprise move, the U.S. Supreme Court stopped the execution two hours after Murphy was originally set to be put to death at 6 p.m
The ruling states that Texas may not execute Murphy while the issue is considered unless the state allows a Buddhist spiritual advisor into the death chamber with him.
A spokesperson for the department said the prison legal teams will review the order after the ruling and 'determine what, if any, future impact it might have'.
In the meantime, Murphy will be sent back to death row.
In Texas, chaplains in the execution chamber will often pray and rest their hand on an inmate's lower leg during the execution.
