INJUSTICE?
Florida Mom Gets 20 Years For Firing Warning Shot

She pled 'stand your ground' after she was allegedly attacked by abusive ex-husband

18 hrs ago by Mary Noble
Senior Editor t +


Marissa Alexander at her trial in May 2012 • Ebony.com



In 2012, a Florida mother of three received a 20-years prison sentence for firing a warning shot into the ceiling to deter her ex-husband from attacking her.
The case is receiving renewed media attention after the Zimmerman verdict, because Marissa Alexander pled self-defense under Florida's stand your ground law. She claims that her ex-husband attacked her and made her fear for her life. She had already taken out a protective order against him after he had assaulted her, including one incident that put her in hospital. She had never been in trouble with the law before her arrest.
According to sworn depositions, Alexander was living at her mother's house after separating from her husband Rico Gray. He came to the house and "flew into a jealous rage after discovering, while poking through her cellphone, that she had sent pictures of their newborn daughter to her first husband," according to Reason. Alexander was in the bathroom at the time.
Gray tried to force the door and then blocked her exit when she tried to leave. "I was like forcing her back with my body," he admitted in his sworn deposition. He is 7 inches taller and outweighs her by 100 pounds, according to Reason. He admitted that he told her "if she ever cheated on me I would kill her."
She pushed past him and ran to get her gun from her car, then returned to the house and told Gray to leave. She says she then fired a warning shot into the ceiling, and Gray initially admitted that was true. "The gun was never pointed at me," he said in his sworn depostion. "She just didn't want me to put my hands on her anymore, so she did what she feel like she have to do to make sure she wouldn't get hurt."
Three months later he changed his story and claimed she aimed at him. His lawyers then argued that the bullet trajectory could have struck him, but Alexander's family say that the bullet was found in the ceiling.
Even if she had aimed at her husband, the Stand Your Ground defense could apply, since she could reasonably claim to be in fear of her life.
Alexander was offered a three year sentence if she pled guilty to aggravated assault, but she rejected the deal because she believed she'd done nothing wrong.
Florida's mandatory minimum sentencing required Alexander to receive no less than 20 years in prison, because she was convicted of attempted murder.
Gray says he initially lied to protect Alexander because they had got back together after the shooting incident, and later told the truth once they broke up again. During their period back together Alexander was charged with assaulting him.
Regardless of the complications of the case, 20 years seems a long sentence for an incident in which a gun was fired but no one was hurt.
Via Reason.com, Opposing Views and CBS.




http://politix.topix.com/news/7033-f...g-warning-shot


Outrage here????? NOOOOPE!!!!!