Woman marries death row prisoner

The couple met through a pen pal programme - photo courtesy of WRAL TV

A former Nottinghamshire woman has married a death row prisoner at a ceremony in a US jail.

Tracy Cope, 44, married James Lewis Morgan, 52, at Central Prison in Raleigh, North Carolina, last week.

Their four-and-a-half-year relationship began when Ms Cope sent the inmate a love poem through a pen pal programme. She has since moved to North Carolina.

Morgan was convicted of killing Patrina Lynette King, 34, in November 1997 and was sentenced to death.

We never give up hope. We say that with God, all things are possible Tracy Cope

Prison officials allowed the couple to hold hands, hug and kiss during the wedding ceremony, but visits will now be through a glass partition and will be limited to one-and-a-half hours per week.

Tracy told WRAL TV in North Carolina Morgan's crime was no longer a concern to her once she found out all the details.

She added that she was optimistic they would both be together outside prison walls one day.

"We never give up hope. We say that with God, all things are possible."

The North Carolina Department of Correction said Morgan is one of only two prisoners to get married at Central Prison in the past five years.