Human rights groups are expressing their opposition to the distressing method used in the execution of a particular prisoner. According to reports, Nathan James Jr's execution was initially slated for 6 pm on July 28 but allegedly did not occur until 9 pm, and the 49-year-old was declared dead at 9.27 pm.

Nathan James Jr, a death row inmate, endured what human rights activists are describing as the lengthiest execution ever, characterized by '3 hours of pain.'

The individual received a death sentence by lethal injection for the 1994 murder of Faith Hall in Birmingham, Alabama.

According to reports, the scheduled execution on July 28 was initially set for 6 pm, but officials postponed it until 9 pm, with the inmate declared dead at 9.27 pm.

Officials at the William C. Holman Correctional Facility in Atmore initially asserted that the execution proceeded as planned. However, the Alabama Department of Corrections (ADOC) later conceded that there were difficulties in locating the intravenous line.

As per the Mirror report, an autopsy disclosed that James exhibited multiple puncture wounds and needle cuts on his body, indicating that he "struggled and had to be sedated."

The human rights organization Reprieve US subsequently declared that the report indicated the administration of the lethal injection occurred hours before members of the media were granted access, approximately at 9:00 pm.

"James, it appeared, had suffered a long death," an article in the Atlantic reported, citing experts, that the convicted murderer might not have spoken before his death due to the possibility of sedation, which could have been employed to facilitate the process of locating a vein.

Despite the scheduled execution time of 6 pm, the media was not granted access until 8.57 pm.

Additionally, there are reports indicating that the 49-year-old's arm was observed in motion around 9.05 pm, with signs of breathing continuing until approximately 9.12 pm.

The curtains for witnesses were drawn at 9.18 pm, and the recorded time of death was not documented until 9.27 pm, prompting human rights organizations to assert that it could be the longest execution in US history.

Maya Foa, the Director of Reprieve US, expressed:

States cannot persist in pretending that the morally repugnant practice of lethal injection is humane in any manner.

"This is the latest example of the extreme lengths states will go to hide the brutal reality of lethal injection because they know the public would oppose it if they found out what was really going on."

However, ADOC Commissioner John Hamm defended how the execution unfolded.

He told journalists: "[I can't] overemphasize this process. We're carrying out the ultimate punishment, the execution of an inmate."

"And we have protocols and we're very deliberate in our process, and making sure everything goes according to plan. So if that takes a few minutes or a few hours, that's what we do."