Tiana Krasniqi decided to marry James Broadnax, despite the fact that he is on death row for murder, and has opened up about her decision.
Broadnax, 37, is due to be executed by lethal injection on April 30 – just weeks after marrying Krasniqi, 31. He was sentenced to death for shooting two men in 2008 at the age of 19, according to the Texas Department of Criminal Justice.
Since then, campaigns to halt his execution have been launched, citing new evidence, claims of racism, and a statement from co-defendant Damarius Cummings, who said he was the sole shooter. But earlier this month, his appeal was rejected, and shortly before his scheduled execution, he and Krasniqi decided to tie the knot.
“A very quick 20-minute ceremony”
In an interview with This Morning on April 13, Krasniqi opened up about the ceremony.
“It’s pretty much the same behind glass again,” she said, according to Tyla. “Texas has a very strict rule about no contact with death row inmates. So, yeah, 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 couple have never spent time together outside prison, but have reportedly spoken daily. They met when Krasniqi was studying racial disparities as part of her education in international human rights law.
According to her, neither of them were looking for a relationship at the time, but developed feelings for one another “two or three months later.”
“We kind of realised that it was just more than a study, but it was never intentional,” she said, according to Tyla.
“He’s very intelligent, very well spoken, very respectful. He’s just your normal person … I know a lot of people would say, ‘You haven’t spent a day or a night with him,’ but you speak to somebody every single day for 6-7 hours a day, so you kind of go through the ups and downs.
“It’s just his personality and who he is as a person. Believe it or not, he does have a moral compass.”
Her family does not support their marriage
But while they feel secure in their relationship, it has not been supported by Krasniqi’s family.
“No one’s happy. It’s not your typical, conventional relationship. There’s not any support, especially since being here,” she said.
“I haven’t heard from anyone, which is fine. I completely understand. I’m not going to hold any grudges or anything from anybody … Nobody’s going to understand it.”
She believes her husband was “wrongfully convicted” and remains hopeful that his execution will be stopped.
“Still have hope”
She alleges he had taken the “mind-altering” drug PCP prior to his confession, claiming: “He pretty much took the blame for something he didn’t do.
“He acted in a way which showed he was under the influence.”
Krasniqi also cited a “Batson violation case,” referring to alleged jury selection bias.
“They had excluded all African American jurors from the case until the last minute, when the judge had said, ‘This is becoming a Batson violation, you need to add an African American in this jury pool as soon as possible,’ but they only added one,” she said.
“Also within that time, there was the questioning of the jurors. It wasn’t the most racially neutral question, but they say it was.”
Should the execution take place, however, she is determined to be there.
“I think you still have hope because the evidence is so overwhelming that he didn’t commit the crime, and you’d hope that people do stand up and fight for somebody you know didn’t commit the crime,” she said.
READ MORE
- JD Vance issues grim 2-word warning to Pope Leo amid latest Trump remarks
- Barbara Eden, 94, looks ‘ageless’ in rare new photo with husband
