British law school graduate Tiana Krasniqi broke down as James Broadnax was given a lethal injection in a Texas prison
The wife of a death row rapper screamed “I love you” as she watched her husband being executed for murder.
British law school graduate Tiana Krasniqi, 31, pressed herself against a chamber window as James Broadnax, 37, was put to death by lethal injection at 6.47pm in a Texas prison. The pair married a fortnight ago in a short 20-minute ceremony in the Allan B. Polunsky Unit after Tiana made contact with the inmate for a legal study.
She had campaigned to spare his life after he was convicted of the 2008 shootings of two Christian music producers. But yesterday Tiana watched helplessly during Broadnax’s execution, pressing herself up against the viewing window with her arms outstretched. Tiana broke down and had to be helped out of the prison.
READ MORE: Woman charged over Wimbledon school crash that killed two eight-year-old girlsREAD MORE: Bayesian superyacht sinking that killed seven including billionaire ‘NOT caused by storm’
Hours before the execution, Broadnax’s legal team shared a statement, saying: “I would like to thank everybody for their love, prayers and support, legal and otherwise, and for all of the effort of fighting for justice in this case. It doesn’t go unnoticed, and we thank you.” Tiana, from Lewisham, London, first contacted Broadnax as part of her legal studies. In October 2024, she was applying to study for a master’s in international human rights law at the University of Law.
She decided to write to Broadnax as part of a dissertation supporting her master’s application, which examined racial disparities in US capital punishment. But earlier this month she revealed that she fell in love with the inmate within a “few months.”
She said: “We kind of realised that it was more than a study, but it was never intentional. It was never something where you go on there and be like, ‘Hi, let’s be in a relationship.'” Broadnax told Tiana that a relationship was “not realistic” given his impending execution.
But Tiana said: “He’s just very intelligent, very well-spoken, very respectful, he is just your normal person. Just that fact that he was on death row made the difference. Believe it or not he does have a moral compass.” They have only ever spoken through a glass screen, but she takes comfort in holding a few items of clothing the 37-year-old has given to her.
She said: “I have T-shirts that he’s worn. They will just smell, you know. You’d think he’s in the military, off to war, at times.” Speaking about the moment he proposed, Tiana said: “It was a visitation. And yeah, I guess it’s not the most romantic, with all the lights behind and the fireworks and the flowers. But he spoke to me about it and he pretty much confessed to everything. And yeah, he asked.”
Broadnax was accused of gunning down and robbing Stephen Swan and Matthew Butler in a recording studio car park in Dallas, Garland, nearly 18 years ago. However Broadnax’s cousin Demarius Cummings – who was jailed for life without parole over the same crime – has now claimed he pulled the trigger.
Cummings said in a prison video filmed in a last-ditch bid to stop the execution: “I’m really gonna tell it like it’s supposed to be told, that it was me, that I was the killer. I shot Matthew Bullard, Steve Swann.” Lawyers for Broadnax claimed the confession was backed by forensic evidence.
They said Cumming’s DNA – not Broadnax’s – was found on the murder weapon and in the pocket of one of the victims. Despite a last-ditch appeal, officials pressed ahead with the execution at the state penitentiary in Huntsville. Prosecutors have long insisted Broadnax was the gunman, pointing to his own admission.
Speaking to reporters outside prison, he previously said: “I pulled the trigger” – and claimed he had no remorse. But in a later video, Broadnax insisted that the confession was false and made when he no longer cared about his life.
His legal team said he was under the influence of drugs at the time of the interviews. In a separate statement, he expressed regret for his role in the robbery. “I wish I could show them my soul, so they could see just how sorry I am. I am very much remorseful for everything that happened,” he said.
The case drew backing from rappers Travis Scott, T.I. and Killer Mike filing briefs to the Supreme Court in support of his appeal – which was ultimately rejected. Texas officials dismissed the cousin’s confession as “questionable new evidence”. And the victim’s family fiercely opposed any delay.
“This so-called confession from Cummings is just a stall tactic by Broadnax’s desperate defense team. It’s all a lie,” said Theresa Butler, mother of Matthew Butler. Tiana moved to Houston, Texas, where she enlisted a team of lawyers to submit appeals against his execution.
It meant months apart from her daughter, who remains in the UK with the girl’s father. She said: “Nobody agrees with [the relationship]. And I don’t expect them to. Like I said, it’s not conventional. I miss my daughter. I haven’t seen her in a month. I’m probably not going to see her for another two. It is hard.”
But despite her desperate efforts, Broadnax was put to death with a fatal dose of pentobarbital just hours after the US Supreme Court denied his final appeal. In a statement shared after Broadnax’s death, Tiana and his legal team said: “James was a caring, thoughtful, spiritual, and deeply intelligent person who positively impacted all who came to know him. He will be missed by all of us and by his family and many friends.
“James spoke often of his feelings for the families of Mr. Swan and Mr. Butler, and about his remorse for his role in these crimes, and our thoughts at this time are with their families as well, as James’ were.”
