In 2010, Marissa Alexander discharged a firearm in the direction of her estranged husband, Rico Graya so-called “warning shot” that missed him by several inches. Their two children were present.
Although no one was injured, she was charged with aggravated assault with a firearm.
Alexander claimed self-defense, but a judge declined to grant self-defense immunity (“stand-your-ground”). The case went to trial where a jury convicted Alexander after just 12 minutes of deliberation, triggering a mandatory 20-year sentence.
The verdict prompted outrage as it highlighted the absurdly draconian punishments that can result from minimum mandatory sentencing guidelines that demand a certain punishment regardless of the underlying facts of the case.
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