British wife's final words to convict husband before he's executed for double murder

A receptionist from southeast London sobbed and screamed as her husband was executed in Texas for the murders of two men.

British law graduate Tiana Krasniqi watched death row inmate James Broadnax take his last breaths on Thursday (30 April) after they tied the knot just over two weeks ago at a maximum security prison in Livingston.

The 31-year-old is said to have hurled herself against the window of the death chamber while a lethal injection was administered to her spouse, while wailing: "I love you."

The pair - who only ever spoke through a glass screen, even on their wedding day - struck up a relationship early last year after they first began exchanging emails in October 2024.

Krasniqi explained she was completing a masters degree in international human rights law when she got in touch with Broadnax to discuss his case for her research.

During an appearance on This Morning last month, the mum-of-one explained that she didn't intend to fall in love with the killer and said they both planned to just be 'friends'.

James Broadnax, 37, was executed on Thursday (Texas Department of Criminal Justice)

She described her spouse as 'very intelligent, well spoken and respectful', while insisting: "He's a normal person, it's just the fact that he's on death row that makes a difference."

Krasniqi told the hosts of the ITV show that Broadnax, 37, had popped the question while she was visiting him at the maximum security state prison where he was held.

"I guess it's not the most romantic, [without] all the lights behind and the fireworks and the flowers...but yeah, he spoke to me about it and yeah, he asked," she said of their engagement.

Krasniqi then explained that she and Broadnax would still be separated by glass when they said their vows to one another, due to the 'very strict' rules enforced on death row inmates in Texas.

"It's a very quick 20-minute ceremony - you have an officiant, you say your vows and that's it and it's time to go," the newlywed said, while explaining that her friends and family were not supportive of her decision.

Just over a couple of weeks after their wedding on 14 April, Krasniqi was inconsolable after watching her husband die on Thursday.

Krasniqi married the double murderer in April just weeks before his death (ITV)

Broadnax was sentenced to death after confessing to the fatal shootings of Stephen Swan, 26, and Matthew Butler, 28, outside of a Dallas music studio in 2008.

Prosecutors said that he told reporters during interviews that he had 'pulled the trigger' during the deadly robbery, which he carried out alongside his cousin Demarius Cummings.

They were both reportedly under the influence of PCP-laced weed. PCP is sometimes called 'angel dust', and is a dissociative drug which can cause hallucinations.

Despite Cummings - who is serving life in prison - claiming full responsibility for the double murder in March this year and Broadnax launching appeals, his bid to avoid execution was denied.

Broadnax used his final words to tell those present in the death chamber that the justice system had 'got it wrong', while also saying he hoped the victims' families could forgive him.

"I prayed to God for your forgiveness," he stated, according to the Dallas Morning News. "Despite what you think about me, I hope to God that prayer was answered. But no matter what you think about me, Texas got it wrong.

"I’m innocent, the facts of my case should speak for itself. Period."

The mum-of-one told her husband that she loved him as the lethal injection was administered (ITV)

Addressing his devastated wife, he told Broadnax: "My promise still stands. I love you forever and a day."

As the lethal drug began to take effect, the final sentence uttered by Broadnax was interrupted. He said: "Don’t give up, don’t give up, don’t..." He was then pronounced dead at 6.47pm.

Broadnax and her spouse's legal team described him as a 'beloved husband, friend, and mentor' in a statement shared following his death.

'James was never a psychopath or predator, but he was a troubled teen who deeply regretted his participation' in the 2008 murders, it said.

"It is a profoundly troubling statement about our system of justice that none of these decision makers were willing to take steps to grant James relief, or even a stay or reprieve to investigate new facts showing that James did not kill Mr. Swan and Mr. Butler," the statement added.