Angela Corey lashes out at supporters of Marissa Alexander

[RandySF]

Florida State Attorney Angela Corey’s overzealous prosecution of a battered woman who sought to defend herself is a gross miscarriage of justice, writes Kirsten Powers.

Angela Corey is angry. The Florida state attorney lashed out Tuesday at supporters of Marissa Alexander, who has been sentenced to 20 years in prison for defending herself against her violent and abusive husband. Corey is the one who put her away.

No, it’s not Alexander’s abusive husband Rico Gray—who said in his deposition, “I got five baby mammas, and I [hit] every last one of them except for one”—that makes Corey see red. What really fries her bacon is the idea that anyone questions her overzealous prosecution of a battered woman acting in self-defense......

Angela Corey’s prosecution was based in part on the premise that, as she told the Huffington Post, “[Alexander] was not in fear” at the time she fired the gun. This is a ludicrous thing to say. It’s worth reviewing in detail exactly what Gray said in his 2010 deposition to fully appreciate how disturbing Corey’s claim is.


http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2013/07/19/angela-corey-s-overzealous-prosecution-of-marissa-alexander.html

[MotherPetrie]

1. K&R

[Tx4obama]

2. The guy was holding her hostage in her own home, he is the one that should be in prison.

She had a protection order out on him, he shouldn't have even have been there.

[davidn3600]

3. I think the problem is that she retreated

She left the house, thus taking herself out of danger. Then she got the gun and ran back inside. By the way the law is written, one could interpret it in a way that she now becomes the aggressor. She would have the right to stand her ground had the husband followed her out of the house.

But in any case, the 20 year sentence is a complete farce. The reason for that is the "10-20-life" law which was not designed to be applied in situations like this.

[Tx4obama]

4. Actually no she did not. She went into the attached garage but could not get out of the garage

... it was locked.

Common sense should make it clear that an attached garage is just another room of the house.

[Nevernose]

5. Except when the police checked it out

The garage door opened right up. She also didn't have to shoot the gun. There was also no proof that she had "been held hostage."

The guy was an incredible asshole. Sadly, there's no law against that.

She deserved some time in jail -- she put a man and a couple of children in jeopardy for no good reason -- the real problem is Florida's compromise on gun laws. Lots of harsh punishment laws combined with lots of laws promoting gun use.

[Tx4obama]

7. Gray said in his 2010 deposition that the garage was locked and he knew she could not get out.

And I can't believe you said that SHE put HIM in jeopardy - HE was the one abusive one.

He violated the protection order by being there.

And I'm wondering if you read all four pages of the article on the OP link.

[davidn3600]

11. She did put her children in jeopardy by firing "warning shots"

What would be your position had one of those warning shots killed her child? Should she still not be punished? I couldnt care less about the husband's well-being. But she had no right to be firing a gun in a house with children.

My philosophy is if you are going to fire a gun, other than at a shooting range, plan on that bullet killing someone. Children have been killed with guns going off and the bullet going through the wall. That has happened more than a couple times. Even firing a "warning shot" into the air outside has hurt people when that bullet falls back to the earth.

[Tx4obama]

12. So, your solution to the problem would have just been for her to allow him to beat her up again...

... and possibly kill her?

She had a protective order out against him. He ignored it.

Do you have a clue how many women in this country are killed every year by their significant other?

Unbelievable!

------

Murder

In 2005, 1,181 women were murdered by an intimate partner. That's an average of three women every day. Of all the women murdered in the U.S., about one-third were killed by an intimate partner.

-snip-

http://www.now.org/issues/violence/stats.html

[dionysus]

17. some people are just idiots man. :(

[davidn3600]

27. I never said that...

If Alexander's husband was beating her, she has every right to pull out a gun and kill the bastard.

But if she flees and then returns with a gun and HE retreats...is it self-defense anymore?

[MattBaggins]

36. Her children were still in the house

[ceonupe]

37. Because they were on visitation with him

This was a domestic violence situation because of unsettled relationship problems.

4 months after this shooting she returned and asulated him again and pled guilty.

Yes 20 years is to much (you can blame the gun controllers pushing mandatory min. Sentencing) but she should have gotten some punishment.

Mandatory min sentencing is always a bad thing. It removes the judge from being able to impose proper sentences.

[bigdarryl]

28. It's funny how we always think of the children for our conveyance

And yet a 17 year old was shot point blank in the FUCKING heart and people especially(some on the right) white are justifying Zimmerman's actions.

[JustAnotherGen]

32. +1

[TheDebbieDee]

42. But she didn't kill anyone with those warning shots, did she? If we could be sent

to prison for things we did that COULD have hurt or killed somebody, we'd ALL be in jail.......

We're not living the Minority Report here - this is real life. Prison time should be reserved for real criminals.

[Lurks Often]

43. She was not living there at the time, HE WAS

and if the garage was locked how did she put her car in the garage in the first place?

Here some facts about the case:
1. She was not living in the house
2. She went to the house and put her car in the garage
3. The husband, who is without a doubt a POS, is the one who called 911
4. They argue, she allegedly says "I have something for you" goes to the garage and gets the gun
5. The warning shot(s) (which are illegal in most states) were at head height
6. She also stated that the garage door that had worked minutes before was no longer working when she tried to leave
7. She was offered a plea bargain that would have resulted in time served and declined

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-504083_162-57434757-504083/fla-woman-marissa-alexander-gets-20-years-for-warning-shot-did-she-stand-her-ground/

The 20 years is too much, but there is more to the case then most posts show.

[X_Digger]

45. It kind of befuddles me how so many are ignoring so many facets of this case. n/t

[Tx4obama]

9. Oh & btw, under Stand Your Ground in FL the person fearing for their life does not have to retreat

... so it doesn't matter if the garage door was locked or not.

She was in her home and had a right to stay there and Stand Her Ground.

[SwampG8r]

10. actually

here in florida, if she had left her children with a man known to act out violently to the point of a court issuing a restraining order, she would likely be guilty of child endangerment.
so getting the gun to assure the safety of her children is actually the intent of our self defense laws
the law here clearly states in defense of self or others
the irony is if she had entered the room and dropped him dead in front of the children the state most likely would have let her walk.

[Warren DeMontague]

6. Florida also gleefully sent a paraplegic to prison for 40 years for taking his own pain meds.

Is anyone surprised?

[NutmegYankee]

34. Do you have a link to that story?

[Warren DeMontague]

48. Oh, sorry, it was "only" 25 years.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/maia-szalavitz/cruel-and-unusual-25-year_b_35781.html?

[Cha]

8. "Not in fear".. and this is the one who was the prosecutor

against zimmerman? What a load of bullshite she turned out to be.

[Pretzel_Warrior]

13. I'm so happy Angela Corey is being exposed for the shit that she is

[ZRT2209]

14. +1

that fucking obnoxious press conference, all about her and her fucking paralegals, and who was nice to them, and who said good morning to them....holy fucking christ on a cracker this woman has her head so far up her ass

[freshwest]

16. +1

[vanlassie]

15. I just watched that little bit after the verdict

For Zimmerman and the gleeful demeanor she showed tells me there's something wrong with that Corey chick. Seriously.

[ReRe]

22. You nailed how she acted at that press conference after the trial....

"Gleeful" really does describe her behavior. It was like they had won! But she made it perfectly clear (sarcasm) that the case was not about "race."

[AZ Progressive]

18. Angela Corey loves putting black people in prison, the stats to prove it

http://justice4juveniles.com/index.php?topic=882.0

"More importantly, why would a State Attorney with this kind of record toward young black males be chosen to head the prosecution for a murder victim who is the exact demographic of those she marginalizes in her own judicial circuit? Is it a publicity stunt to save her career? An easy way to make her look like a good prosecutor in light of all statistical data over the course of three plus years showing what she is really doing to children and minorities?

Is anyone going to take a closer look into what this woman is doing?

Statistical Comparisons

Here are the percentages of black males versus white males transferred into the adult criminal system in Florida as a whole. This includes all judicial circuits, including the 4th judicial circuit:

2006-2007 – 146,950 total juvenile referrals. 4,622 transferred to adult court. Of the above percentages given in relation to those transferred to adult court, 53.3% were black. 24.5% were white.

2007-2008 – 145,539 total juvenile referrals. 4, 907 transferred to adult court. Of the above percentages given in relation to those transferred to adult court, 50.1% were black. 25.7% were white.

2008-2009 – 138,218 total juvenile referrals. 4,393 transferred to adult court. Of the above percentages given in relation to those transferred to adult court, 52.8% were black. 23.4% were white.

2009-2010 – 121,642 total juvenile referrals. 3,694 transferred to adult court. Of the above percentages given in relation to those transferred to adult court, 52.1% were black. 24.2% were white.

2010-2011 – 109,813 total juvenile referrals. 3,061 transferred to adult court. Of the above percentages given in relation to those transferred to adult court, 50.8% were black. 26.1% were white.

Here is the data for Angela Corey’s 4th judicial circuit. Note the considerable increase. Angela Corey took office in the beginning of 2009 and did nothing to decrease the number of black males tried as adults – a trend that started before her and has not ceased. The trend has likely increased for 2011-2012 since juvenile crime referrals in her district of Duval went up, while referrals in the majority of other Florida counties actually went down:

2006-2007 – 8125 total juvenile referrals. Of the above percentages given in relation to those transferred to adult court, 61.7% were black. 31.3% were white.

2007-2008 – 9482 total juvenile referrals. Of the above percentages given in relation to those transferred to adult court, 79.2% were black. 13.8% were white.

2008-2009 – 8911 total juvenile referrals. Of the above percentages given in relation to those transferred to adult court, 71.1% were black. 19.6% were white.

2009-2010 – 6877 total juvenile referrals. Of the above percentages given in relation to those transferred to adult court, 74.4% were black. 16.8% were white.

2010-2011 – 5889 total juvenile referrals. Of the above percentages given in relation to those transferred to adult court, 62.2% were black. 27.8% were white.

All statistical information may be found on the Florida Department of Juvenile Justice site."

[Tx4obama]

19. I think our comment text should have its own thread/OP so more folks will see it. n/t

[Tx4obama]

20. Have you heard about this...

Cristian Fernandez case

In 2011 Corey's office oversaw a case in which 12-year-old Cristian Fernandez was accused of killing his two-year-old brother. Corey sought and received a grand jury indictment of Fernandez on charges of homicide and aggravated child abuse, and decided to try him as an adult.[2][16] This move, which made Fernandez the youngest person ever to face a murder charge in Jacksonville's history, drew criticism and protests to send the case to juvenile court instead,[17] but Corey held that the juvenile system was inadequate to handle a crime of this magnitude.[18] Corey stated she did not intend for Fernandez to stand trial or serve a life sentence, but would rather accept a plea deal.[19] Fernandez pleaded guilty to manslaughter in February 2013 and was sentenced to detention in a juvenile facility until his 19th birthday.[20] Fernandez, however, "wound up locked in solitary confinement in an adult jail prior to his court date."[2] When Ron Littlepage of the Florida Times-Union wrote a column criticizing her handling of the case, Corey “fired off a two-page, single-spaced letter on official state-attorney letterhead hinting at lawsuits for libel.”[2]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Angela_Corey

And...

Upon taking office, Corey terminated 10 assistant state attorneys, as well as "half of the office’s investigators, two-fifths of its victim advocates, a quarter of its 35 paralegals, and 48 other support staff — more than one-fifth of the office."[2][12][13][14] In 2010, the Florida Times-Union reported that Corey sent 230 juvenile felony cases to adult court in 2009. This amounted to twice the number of juvenile felony cases placed in adult court in the years prior to Corey becoming State Attorney.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Angela_Corey#State_Attorney

She sounds like a nut.

[ReRe]

24. Please make an OP out of that, will ya?

Purrrrrrrrrdy' please? Send a copy to AG Holder too. Thanks!

[ReRe]

21. Well, well, well....

I had a hunch about Angela B. Corey. Couldn't put my finger on it. She was just a wee bit too melodramatic. I wouldn't put it past her to have botched the case against George Zimmerman, since his daddy was a former Judge. We should have known what was going on when the prosecution didn't ask for a change of venue at the get-go. I never did get a square answer as to why there was only 6 jurors. Someone died, for God's sake. Didn't that warrant a full jury? Too many of the prosecution witnesses got on the stand and blew a gasket right out from under them. Everything was surreal from the night that Zimmerman shot Trayvon Martin right up to the press conference after the trial. How many times did they change judges? 2 or 3? And Zimmerman changed lawyers once or twice? And not a fucking word was mentioned about GZ's untrustworthyness. Remember how he lied to the judge about his money situation? I guess when that judge left the case they just threw out all that evidence?

[davidn3600]

23. 6 jurors has been Florida law since the 70s for non-capital cases

I think 1971, Florida fought in the US Supreme Court to be allowed to only have 6 jurors for felony cases, and 12 jurors for capital cases. SCOTUS said it's OK saying the 6th amendment says nothing about how many jurors are required.

Why? Money, of course. They dont care if anyone died. 6-person juries are easier for a court to manage and the deliberations don't take as long therefore the trials can move through the system faster.

It is what it is until SCOTUS decides to change their mind.

[ReRe]

25. Thanks for explaining that to me...

It just looks like it would have merited a larger jury, since Trayvon lost his LIFE! You know... COMMON SENSE. What about the Casey Anthony case? How was that one a capital case and Zimmerman's wasn't? I'm just too full of questions this morning, aren't I? Sorry.

[davidn3600]

29. Casey Anthony was charged with 1st degree murder. Zimmerman was charged with 2nd degree

1st degree murder shows per-meditation intentional killing. It means you planned and executed a murder. That is a capital crime as it calls for the death penalty.
2nd degree murder shows a murder that wasn't planned, but the result of a "depraved mind." This is not a capital crime and max sentence is life in prison.

It should be 12 jurors for all criminal cases. But that's just my opinion.

[Lurks Often]

44. Are you intentionally lying or ignorant of the facts?

Zimmerman's father was NOT a judge. He was a retired magistrate in Virgina.

Here is a definition of what a Magistrate does in VA:

http://www.roanokeva.gov/85256A8D0062AF37/vwContentByKey/N255CPP9236CFIREN

[onenote]

46. anytime someone repeats the "daddy was a judge" point

its a pretty good indication that one should be skeptical of what they say since that claim has been debunked here (and elsewhere) literally dozens of times.

[ReRe]

49. I beg your pardon, please?

No, I am not "intentionally lying". Ignorant of some facts, probably. I had heard that his dad was a judge somewhere, and never did hear the word "magistrate", so I guess that's why I said what I did. What is a magistrate? I always equated the term with "Justice of the Peace."

Knowing that I was wrong on that one issue, I still think Angela B. Corey is corrupt.

[Lurks Often]

50. I think Corey should be fired and investigated and probably disbarred n/t

[bigdarryl]

26. Randi was talking about this on her show she's upset because according to her

Obama has the power to PARDON Alexander right now and if he wants to show he's serious about the disparity in the criminal justice system he should pardon her

[Pelican]

30. Not gonna happen....

[CincyDem]

35. I wonder if he gives her the Marc Rich treatment in Dec 2016? n/t

[hack89]

41. The President cannot pardon state convictions, only federal.

Only the governor of Florida has the power to pardon Alexander.

[onenote]

47. If Randi said that she was speaking out of ignorance

The President cannot pardon someone convicted of a state crime.

[DLevine]

31. She gets 20 years for a warning shot, Zimmie shoots a child in the heart and walks free.

Something's wrong in Florida.

[jessie04]

33. Really !!!!

Wtf is wrong there ???

[hack89]

40. When you pass laws severly punishing the misuse of guns

then things like this happen. The real issue here is minimum sentencing laws - judges need the discretion to match the sentence to the actual crime.

[Hoyt]

51. I agree with that. But, judges should be free to add years for members of gun culture.

If someone carries a gun, accumulates guns, is all into guns, etc., judges should be allowed to increase sentences because the person shows a predisposition to violence, callousness, often bigotry, etc.

I suspect the state could have gone after this women on different charges, or not prosecuted her at all. But, then, it's Florida where they throw the book at minorities, even dead ones.

[DinahMoeHum]

38. When is that incompetent fuck Corey up for re-election?

Just askin'.

[hack89]

39. Florida has a law that severely punishes the use of a gun in a crime

that is the issue here - mandatory sentencing that took away the possibility of a lesser sentence. Corey offered a plea bargain for 3 years - it was turned downed.

[stevenleser]

52. So if you aren't a white male standing your ground against a non white male, you cant use SYG.

Women dont get to use SYG in Florida either it seems.

[hack89]

53. 15 women have used SYG in Florida - nearly two thirds were acquitted

http://www.tampabay.com/stand-your-ground-law/fatal-cases

[stevenleser]

55. Not clear based on what you posted. In several of the cases, no charges were ever brought"

I dont think that is the same as using SYG in a criminal case.

[hack89]

56. Don't forget the immunity from prosecution clause for self defense.

part of a self defense case is going in front of a judge and convincing him/her that SYG applies and the killing was justified. If they agree then there is no trial. If the system was biased against women (and blacks for that matter) then you would expect more rejections and fewer approvals. Yet we find the opposite.

[hack89]

54. Blacks use SYG in black on white shootings just as frequently

and they just as likely to be acquitted as whites.

In general, blacks have a lower conviction rate in SYG than whites.