A British woman who married a death row inmate just two weeks before he was put to death has described the horror of watching his execution, claiming even the prison warden was left in tears.
Tiana Broadnax witnessed her husband James Broadnax, 37, receive a lethal injection in Huntsville, Texas, on April 30 this year. The Londoner said she watched through a window as her husband was strapped down and put to death, before later encountering a warden who she said had himself been crying.
A marriage cut short
Tiana, who met Broadnax while carrying out academic research, said her husband had also been crying heavily before his execution and struggled to eat.
Broadnax was sentenced to death for the 2008 murders of music producers Stephen Swan, 26, and Matthew Butler, 28, outside a Dallas studio. He and his cousin Demarius Cummings, both 19 at the time, had attempted to rob the men while under the influence of cannabis and PCP.
Broadnax initially confessed but later retracted his admission, while Cummings was sentenced to life without the possibility of parole.
Last-minute appeals
Tiana continues to maintain her husband was innocent and efforts were made to stop his execution. His lawyers claimed Cummings' DNA was found on the murder weapon, while Cummings confessed to pulling the trigger in a video weeks before Broadnax's death.
Texas officials described the development as "questionable new evidence" and the execution went ahead.
The final moments
Recalling entering the viewing area, Tiana said she saw her husband strapped down with his arms crossed in what she described as a "crucifix style".
She said: "Soon as I turn left, he turns and we both look at each other in the eyes and I drop and I scream."
Tiana said she was warned she could be arrested if she struck the window separating her from her husband.
Broadnax could hear his wife as she repeatedly told him she loved him and said she was "sorry for failing" him.
He replied: "No, baby, don’t blame yourself, stop blaming yourself."
Tiana recalled his final statement included: "I love you queen, don’t give up, I love you queen, don’t give up."
She said: "As he said ‘don't’, his head jerked back and he went [gasping noise] and then his eyes rolled up and he dropped. And I screamed."
Aftermath and grief
Tiana said she remained there for another 20 minutes and watched as her husband's lips and face turned blue and veins appeared on his forehead.
After Broadnax was pronounced dead, she asked to be taken out and later travelled to the funeral home.
Tiana recalled losing her sense of reality and running towards the funeral vehicle carrying her husband's body when she saw it arrive.
She said a spiritual adviser and the prison warden, who she said had been crying, grabbed her and took her inside.
Tiana was given 20 minutes with her husband's body. It was the first time she had been able to physically touch him.
During those final moments, she told him: "You are at peace now."
