A judge has ruled against giving Marissa Alexander a new "Stand Your Ground" hearing. Back in 2012, Alexander was sentenced to 20 years in prison for firing a warning shot during a fight with her abusive husband. The conviction was later overturned on appeal.
According to Salon, Alexander's defense team "argued that her case warranted another hearing because there was new evidence—including expert testimony on battered woman syndrome and Gray’s history of domestic violence—to introduce. Circuit Judge James Daniel, however, found on Friday that “the basic outlines of her claim and [Gray’s] claim have not changed at all.” He also ruled that the recent addition of a “warning shot” provision to Florida’s “Stand your ground” law could not be applied retroactively."
"Stand your ground" allows a person to fire a weapon if there is "reasonable fear of imminent peril of death or great bodily harm to himself or herself." Alexander currently faces three counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. State Attorney Angela Corey is seeking a 60-year-sentence. The case is now set to be retried.
Comments