Feeling Rebloggy
After firing a warning shot to stop an abusive husband from beating her in stand your ground state Florida, Marissa Alexander was found guilty of assault with a deadly weapon and sentenced to 20 years in jail. In 2012, after she won her appeal in the midst of the Trayvon Martin murder and subsequent trial of George Zimmerman, Prosecutor Angela Corey tried to re-try her and put her in jail for a total 60 years.
This, in my opinion, intimidated Alexander into taking a plea deal where she accepted time served (2 to 3 years) a month or so more in jail, and house arrest. As I understand it, Florida prosecutors are no longer allowed to pile on sentences in this way.
Currently, Marissa appears to be flourishing and running a business until she is completely free. Her house arrest is due to end near the end of 2016.
But first, an interesting co-mingling of the Trayvon Martin and Marissa Alexander timelines as influenced by one prosecutor in Florida, Angela Corey.
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WARNING SHOT FIRED BY MARISSA ALEXANDER
August 1, 2010
Nine days after giving birth to a premature daughter, Marissa Alexander was attacked by her abusive estranged husband at their shared home. She writes, “In an unprovoked jealous rage, my husband violently confronted me while using the restroom. He assaulted me, shoving, strangling and holding me against my will, preventing me from fleeing all while I begged for him to leave.” He attacked her while his sons were in the home. Marissa retrieved her lawfully registered gun and fired a warning shot upwards into a wall to prevent him from beating her to death. No one was injured by her warning shot.
August 17, 2011
Alexander is denied Stand Your Ground immunity from prosecution.
7:20 PM — Officer Smith takes Zimmerman into custody
April 20 2012
May 11, 2012: Alexander is found guilty of three counts of assault with a deadly weapon and received a mandatory minimum sentence of 20 years in prison.
September 26, 2013:
Marissa Alexander successfully appealed the 2012 trial, the guilty verdict was overturned, and she was given the right to a new trial.
The appellate court ruled that the jury instructions put too much of a burden on Alexander. “The defendant’s burden is only to raise a reasonable doubt concerning self-defense,” a three-judge panel ruled. “The defendant does not have the burden to prove the victim guilty of the aggression defended against beyond a reasonable doubt.” However, the appellate court did not overturn the 2012 court decision to deny Marissa Alexander a Stand Your Ground immunity from prosecution
November 27, 2013
Alexander was released on bond the night before Thanksgiving. She spent 1,021 days in prison.
March 1, 2014
The Florida Times-Union reported that Angela Corey is seeking a 60 year sentence for Marissa Alexander if Alexander is found guilty in the July 28th trial. Corey argued that the mandatory minimum statute required Alexander to serve three 20 year sentences consecutively rather than concurrently, tripling the mandatory minimum to 60 years.
* * * * *
If it weren't for the Trayvon Martin murder also happening in Florida, I wonder if most of us would ever have heard of Marissa Alexander.
"Alexander talked to Action News Jax anchor Dawn Lopez about the night that changed her life and her new fight to change the law."
THE DEATH OF TRAYVON MARTIN
February 26 2102
At an unverified time, Trayvon Martin walks from the home where he is staying to a nearby 7-Eleven.
6:24 PM — As shown by a store CCTV, Martin purchases a bag of Skittles and an AriZona Watermelon Fruit Juice Cocktail (often described in media and at protests as AriZona iced tea.
7:11 PM — Zimmerman tells the police dispatcher that Trayvon Martin is running.
7:12 PM — In reply to the dispatcher's question, "Are you following him?" Zimmerman responds with, "Yes." Dispatcher: "OK, we don't need you to do that." Zimmerman: "OK."
7:16 PM — First 911 call from witness about a fight, calls for help heard. Gunshot heard on 911 call.
7:20 PM — Officer Smith takes Zimmerman into custody
7:30 PM — Trayvon Martin pronounced dead at the scene by paramedic
1:00 AM (Approx. 5 hours later, Feb 27th) — Zimmerman released.
February 27 2012
8:39 AM – Martin reported missing by his father.
Around 9:20 AM. — SPD informs Tracy Martin of the death of his son
April 11 2012
Angela Corey announces that George Zimmerman is charged with second degree murder. Zimmerman turns himself in to the police and is taken into custody shortly after Corey's announcement
April 9 2012
Angela Corey decides against a grand jury for the [Zimmerman] case, eliminating the possibility of a first-degree murder charge.
April 20 2012
At bail hearing lead investigator Dale Gilbreath states that they did not know who started the fight and have no evidence contradicting Zimmerman's statement that Martin attacked him first. Bail is set at $150,000.
May 11, 2012: Alexander is found guilty of three counts of assault with a deadly weapon and received a mandatory minimum sentence of 20 years in prison.
June 10 2013
Zimmerman's murder trial begins with the selection of 6 jury members.
July 13 2013
Zimmerman is found to be not guilty.Marissa Alexander successfully appealed the 2012 trial, the guilty verdict was overturned, and she was given the right to a new trial.
The appellate court ruled that the jury instructions put too much of a burden on Alexander. “The defendant’s burden is only to raise a reasonable doubt concerning self-defense,” a three-judge panel ruled. “The defendant does not have the burden to prove the victim guilty of the aggression defended against beyond a reasonable doubt.” However, the appellate court did not overturn the 2012 court decision to deny Marissa Alexander a Stand Your Ground immunity from prosecution
November 27, 2013
Alexander was released on bond the night before Thanksgiving. She spent 1,021 days in prison.
March 1, 2014
The Florida Times-Union reported that Angela Corey is seeking a 60 year sentence for Marissa Alexander if Alexander is found guilty in the July 28th trial. Corey argued that the mandatory minimum statute required Alexander to serve three 20 year sentences consecutively rather than concurrently, tripling the mandatory minimum to 60 years.
Trayvon Martin Timeline
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If it weren't for the Trayvon Martin murder also happening in Florida, I wonder if most of us would ever have heard of Marissa Alexander.
"Alexander talked to Action News Jax anchor Dawn Lopez about the night that changed her life and her new fight to change the law."
Link to the video source: http://www.actionnewsjax.com/news/local/marissa-alexander-speaks-out-about-case-that-put-her-in-national-spotlight/293098996
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