Wednesday, January 28, 2015

Florida Mom Who Fired Warning Shots Toward Abusive Husband Released From Prison

Marissa Alexander was released Tuesday. In November, she reached a deal with prosecutors in which she would serve three years in exchange for admission of guilt to assault.


Marissa Alexander, the 34-year-old mother who claimed she fired warning shots at her abusive husband, was released from jail Tuesday after she plead guilty to assault. She will remain under house arrest for an additional two years.


Marissa Alexander, the 34-year-old mother who claimed she fired warning shots at her abusive husband, was released from jail Tuesday after she plead guilty to assault. She will remain under house arrest for an additional two years.


Marissa Alexander exits a Florida courtroom on Tuesday, June 10, 2014.


Bob Mack / Associated Press


The Florida mother's case drew nationwide attention. On Aug. 1, 2010, Alexander and her estranged husband Rico Gray entered got into an altercation in her home that resulted in Gray grabbing her neck. Alexander ran to the garage, grabbed a legally registered gun and fired three warning shots in his direction.


She had given birth to her daughter nine days before.


During her 2012 hearing at the Duval County court, Alexander sought protection under Florida's Stand Your Ground laws, which George Zimmerman used, in part,in his acquittal while facing charges for fatally shooting Trayvon Martin.


Her defense strategy was unsuccessful. A jury convicted her in 12 minutes of three felony charges. She was sentenced to 20 years in jail.


In November, Alexander accepted a plea deal during her appeal in order to avoid an increased sentence of 60 years in prison for possession of a deadly weapon with an intent to harm.






from BuzzFeed - USNews http://ift.tt/1zYHfRK

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