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February 14, 2005
The story of Sally Smith
In 1993 Sally Smith was sentenced to life without parole in Michigan after being convicted of "conspiracy with intent to deliver over 650 grams of cocaine." Her conviction was based on two phone calls she made to collect money for her boyfriend, and two receipts she signed for a cash exchange. There was considerable evidence that Sally was brutally beaten and verbally abused by her boyfriend during their 17-year relationship, and that he had threatened to kill her and one of her family members if she left him. At trial the judge refused to admit evidence of any abuse prior to the period of the conspiracy, deeming it too remote in time to impact her behavior. He also disallowed the testimony of an expert witness who would have testified that Sally's long history of abuse made her incapable of exercising free will.
Posted by fairlaws4families at February 14, 2005 03:58 PM
