On Aug. 24, a Texas woman who was convicted for stabbing her husband and then staging a home invasion was sentenced to 27 years in prison. Throughout the trial and the sentencing, the woman’s attorney continued to maintain her innocence. The husband was reportedly found stabbed to death while the woman, the man’s wife, was found tied up in a closet the next day.
During the woman’s trial, the prosecution claimed that the convicted woman stabbed her husband. However, no forensic evidence was ever provided for the jury. The only motive was that the woman stood to collect $500,000 on a life insurance policy. The prosecution also suggested that the woman, who was a Jehovah’s Witness, wanted to avoid a divorce due to her religion. It was also noted that the lead detective in the case was actually fired for backdating a search warrant in another case.
No witnesses were called during the course of the three-week trial. The defense attorney argued for a short prison sentence while still maintaining his client’s innocence. She could have faced a life term but will be eligible for parole in 13 years and six months.
Homicide charges carry serious consequences if a person is convicted. It is not uncommon for individuals convicted of homicide and other violent crimes to be sentenced to life in prison. However, the prosecution must provide ample proof that the accused person was responsible for the death of another. A criminal law attorney may argue that the evidence the prosecution has does not support the allegations made against the person. The attorney could also potentially argue that, if the accused person was responsible for the death, the killing occurred in self-defense.
Source: The Houston Chronicle, “Woman gets 27 years in stabbing death of husband“, Brian Rogers, 08/24/2017
