The wife of a double murderer screamed “I love you” as he was put to death at a prison in Texas on Thursday.
James Broadnax maintained his innocence in a fatal 2008 robbery that killed two people up until his final breath. His case was controversial, marked by claims prosecutors misused his rap lyrics to secure his death sentence and a recent confession from his cousin.
Broadnax was pronounced dead after receiving a lethal injection at the state penitentiary in Huntsville, Texas, following the US Supreme Court's denial of a last-minute appeal.
He had been condemned for the shooting deaths of Stephen Swan and Matthew Butler outside a music studio in suburban Dallas. Prosecutors said Broadnax and his cousin, Demarius Cummings, fatally shot and robbed Stephen Swan and Matthew Butler.
In his final statement, Broadnax remained defiant, yet sought forgiveness from the victims' relatives present.
"I prayed to God for your forgiveness," he stated. "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 execution was marked by emotional outbursts from Broadnax’s wife, who screamed "I love you" and was later helped out of the prison.
As the sedative pentobarbital began, Broadnax urged supporters, "Don’t give up," before a gasp cut him off mid-sentence. He was pronounced dead 21 minutes later.
Prosecutors had asserted Broadnax, 37, confessed to the shooting, reportedly telling journalists from jail, "I pulled the trigger," and expressing no remorse. However, his legal team focused final appeals on two key issues challenging this narrative.
One central argument was a recent confession from his cousin, Demarius Cummings, who received a life sentence without parole for his role.
Cummings stated in a video supporting Broadnax’s appeal: "I’m really gonna tell it like it’s supposed to be told, that it was me, that I was the killer. I shot Matthew Bullard, Steve Swan."
The defence also alleged prosecutors violated Broadnax’s constitutional rights by dismissing all seven potential Black jurors based on race. Court documents indicated a spreadsheet "bolded only the names of every Black juror."
This practice, despite one Black juror later being reinstated, was argued to contravene the 1986 Batson v. Kentucky ruling, which prohibits racial exclusion of jurors. Broadnax’s lawyers further argued prosecutors improperly used his rap lyrics to portray him as violent, influencing the jury to impose a death sentence. Several prominent rappers had filed briefs with the Supreme Court supporting this appeal.
Theresa Butler, mother of victim Matthew Butler, publicly called for the execution to proceed, dismissing Cummings' confession.
She wrote on social media: "This so called confession from Cummings is just a stall tactic by Broadnax’s desperate defense team. Its all a lie."
Broadnax’s execution marks the third in Texas this year and the tenth nationwide. Texas historically carries out more executions than any other US state. On the same day, Florida executed James Ernest Hitchcock, 70, for the murder of his 13-year-old step-niece.
