Marissa Alexander, Florida resident, faced up to 60 years behind bars for firing one shot into the air to ward off her abusive husband. She was initially given 20 years in her first trial but after an appeal, prosecutor Angela Corey (who also prosecuted George Zimmerman) was now going for triple that amount.
In November, in exchange for time served, Marissa pleaded guilty to three counts of aggravated assault with a weapon. Marissa was jailed from January 2011 to November 2013 and again from November 2014 until this week. She has been released after three years of incarceration. Although, she is free, she will be monitored with an ankle bracelet for 2 years.
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Over the past 3 years, Marissa’s story has received international attention and raised awareness through social media. People rallied, petitions signed, and everyone had something to say in support of a woman who fired a shot in the air to save her own life, and no one was hurt.
Marissa had also just given birth 9 days before the shooting. Her husband had excused her of having an affair and doubted the newborn was his child so he beat her. In an attempt to run away from him, she tried to run out of the garage but it would not open. She then grabbed the gun from inside the car to protect herself. Marissa said her soon to be ex husband said he was going to kill her, before she fired.
“We are thrilled that Marissa will finally be reunited with her children, her family, and her community,” said Sumayya Coleman, co-lead of the Free Marissa Now Mobilization Campaign.
BMWK, what do you think of this outcome? Should she have been given 20 years in the first place?