JACKSON, Ga. --- In an 11th-hour move, the U.S. Supreme Court on Tuesday granted a reprieve for Savannah murder convict Troy Anthony Davis less than two hours before his scheduled execution.

After the stay was granted, Mr. Davis told his sister, Martina Correia, by telephone: "It's not over yet. This is the beginning of my blessing. God has started my journey home."

A crowd of about 50 Davis supporters that had gathered at the prison for the execution erupted into cheers when they received word about the stay.

Prison spokesman Paul Czachowski said the death warrant signed by Chatham County Superior Court Judge Michael Karpf set a window between Tuesday and Sept. 30 for the execution to be carried out.

The Supreme Court is scheduled to reconvene Monday, which means the justices could revisit the stay and vote on a final disposition. If the stay is lifted, the execution still could take place within the judge's time frame.

Mr. Davis was convicted of murder in the Aug. 19, 1989, slaying of off-duty Savannah police officer Mark Allen Macphail. Lawyers for Mr. Davis contend that seven of the nine witnesses who testified against him have recanted their testimony.