Woman sentenced to 20 years for firing ‘warning shot’

Woman sentenced to 20 years for firing ‘warning shot’ released in Florida

A Florida woman sentenced to 20 years in prison for firing a “warning shot” during an altercation with her husband has been released as she waits for a new trial.

In 2012, Marissa Alexander was convicted on three counts of  aggravated assault with a gun, which required a mandatory minimum  sentence of two decades. She was released on Wednesday after  posting a $200,009 bond.

Alexander was awarded a new trial after an appeals court found  that the judge presiding over her case did not properly inform  the jury what her defense was, according to Reuters.

“Words cannot express the relief and joy of everyone in the  Free Marissa Now Mobilization Campaign that Marissa Alexander is  home with her family this Thanksgiving Day,” the  campaign said in a statement to WTLV News.

“We are thrilled that Ms. Alexander will be able to prepare  for her new trial amid the support and love of her children and  family from whom she has been separated far too long.”

Before her conviction, Alexander argued that she fired the gun in  self-defense and attempted to invoke Florida’s controversial   “Stand Your Ground” clause, which permits individuals to use  deadly force in order to protect themselves. Alexander had an  active restraining order against her husband, Rico Gray, who had  also previously been convicted of domestic violence against her.  She claimed Gray was physically and emotionally abusing her  before she fired the gun.

The “Stand Your Ground” argument was thrown out by the judge,  however, because Alexander left the house to collect her firearm.  Prosecutors, meanwhile, claimed that the alleged warning shot  threatened Gray’s life since it flew past his head and into a  nearby wall.

Supporters of Alexander criticized the 20-year sentence when it  was handed out, but the case received new attention when George  Zimmerman was acquitted of murder and manslaughter after shooting  and killing Trayvon Martin. Zimmerman argued his actions were  predicated on self-defense, and his case drew unfavorable  comparisons to Alexander’s.

Angie Nixon of the social justice group Florida New Majority also  praised Alexander’s release to Reuters.

“This news is vindication for Marissa and all the women who  have become criminalized for exercising their basic right to  defend themselves and their children,” she said.

original story here http://rt.com/usa/florida-woman-warning-shot-494/