A British woman is set to marry a convicted double murderer on death row in the United States, just weeks before his scheduled execution. Tiana Krasniqi, 31, will wed James Broadnax on Tuesday, April 14, in a brief ceremony behind glass at a Texas prison.
Appearing on ITV's This Morning via video link, Krasniqi told hosts Cat Deeley and Ben Shephard that Broadnax is due to be executed at the end of the month, though the sentence is being appealed. She expressed her desire to be present if the execution proceeds.
Krasniqi, who is studying for a Master's in international human rights law, said she initially contacted Broadnax after focusing on racial disparities on Texas' death row. She felt his case fell into that category. The relationship developed over time, with the pair speaking daily for six to seven hours.
“It was never intentional,” she said, describing Broadnax as “very intelligent, very well-spoken, very respectful.” She acknowledged that her family is not supportive, stating: “No one's happy. It's not your typical conventional relationship.”
Krasniqi defended her decision, noting that wrongful convictions occur in the US. “I'm not going into this blindly,” she said. The wedding will be a 20-minute ceremony with no physical contact due to strict Texas rules on death row inmates.
