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Woman who visited death row husband on morning of execution will 'never forget last words he said'
A woman has revealed the poignant final words her husband uttered to her moments before his death row execution.
Tiana Broadnax, the widow of murderer James Broadnax, has spoken openly about their last encounter before he was taken to his death.
Woman reveals what her husband said to her moments before his death row execution
Broadnax was convicted of the murders of Stephen Swan and Matthew Butler in 2008, having shot and robbed the pair outside a Dallas studio, along with his cousin, Demarius Cummings.
Broadnax and Cummings, who were both 19 at the time of the shootings, were handed the death penalty and life in prison without parole, respectively, despite both denying the allegations against them.
His partner, Tiana, originally from the UK, traveled over 8,000km to Texas to be with him, after they met while she was conducting research while at university.
Broadnax's execution took place in May this year, despite his cousin later taking full responsibility for the murder, with the couple's pleas for his conviction to be changed falling on deaf ears.
Speaking to LADbible, Tiana revealed what was discussed during their heartbreaking final meeting: "I got him his favorite Powerade and beef jerky because he couldn't eat. So I said 'just eat something' and he was just crying. And I'll never forget. He leaned back and he said, 'I never knew how loved I could be. I never knew I was worthy of being fought for.'
"How do you console somebody who is at the last hours of his life?" she asked.
Execution still went ahead despite new evidence and admission
She was pivotal in efforts to stop the execution, claiming that Cummings' DNA had been found on both the murder weapon and the victims' clothes.
In addition, Cummings also released a video claiming full responsibility for the murders, saying: "I'm really gonna tell it like it's supposed to be told, that it was me, that I was the killer."
Opting to be present at his execution, Tiana announced his final words to her: "He was like, 'I love you queen, don't give up, I love you queen, don't give up.' 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."