30-year-old Santoya brown (Cyntoia Brown), condemned for the murder of the «client», must stay in prison at least 51 years before she can go free.
Thursday, December 6, the Supreme court of Tennessee held that defendants such as Cintoia brown, convicted of first-degree murder committed after July 1, 1995, and sentenced to life imprisonment may not be eligible for release from prison before they will be there for more than five decades.
Thus for the freedom of the former sex slaves are fighting many human rights defenders and activists, including celebrities such as Kim Kardashian and Rihanna. But why many consider the verdict unfair, or overly harsh? Now try to understand.
The system has failed. It’s heart breaking to see a young sex trafficked girl then when she has the courage to fight back is jailed for life! We have to do better & do what’s right. I’ve called my attorneys yesterday to see what can be done to fix this. #FreeCyntoiaBrown pic.twitter.com/73y26mLp7u
— Kim Kardashian West (@@KimKardashian) November 21, 2017
Why 16-year-old girl sent for life in prison?
Cintoia brown was born in a dysfunctional family. Her mother admitted that she was drinking a lot throughout the pregnancy. As a teenager, the girl ran away from home and began to wander with friends in his native Nashville. Soon she met a guy named Thug, who was much older than her. He pushed the child into prostitution.
In August 2004, when Sintay was 16, she was picked up on Murfreesboro Pike 43-year-old real estate agent johnny Allen. He drove her home in Mossdale Drive your truck to have sex with her.
According to the girl, it immediately alerted that he had in the room was a weapons rack, and she began to resist. When they were in bed, she thought he was reaching for the gun under the bed. Cintoia admitted that at that moment she, fearing for his life, pulled out with the bag my gun and shot the man in the head. Then she ran away from home, taking with them few belongings and the purse of his client.
Defenders of Sintii claimed that she was forced into prostitution due to the fact that her life was threatened. But according to prosecutors, she killed a man with one purpose – to Rob him. A minor was tried as an adult.
#CyntoiaBrown must serve 51 years before she’s eligible for release. https://t.co/HiHpcut7jB pic.twitter.com/ELPhwfCHoe
— Okayplayer (@okayplayer) December 7, 2018
Here’s how to advance the cause of Sintii
August 2006
The jury convicted brown of first-degree murder and theft.
October 2006
Brown was sentenced to life imprisonment.
March 2011
Aired PBS documentary «Me facing life: the history of Cintoia («Me Facing Life: Cyntoia»s Story»), which resulted in a new wave of attention to the case of brown.
June 2012
The U.S. Supreme court ruled that mandatory life sentence without parole of juveniles violates the Eighth amendment to the U.S. Constitution on cruel and unusual punishment.
November 2012
Defense attorneys demanded a new trial and provided evidence that brown suffers from fetal alcohol syndrome.
November 2017
Singer Rihanna has again brought public attention to the case of brown, creating a post in Instagram with the hashtag #FREECYNTOIABROWN.
June 2018
Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals hears arguments about whether a life sentence for brown is constitutional.
August 2018
The court of appeal asked the Supreme court of Tennessee to clarify the contradictory laws of the state convictions. In some sections it is said that a criminal should be put in jail for life without parole, while the other says that it needs to release.
December 2018
The Supreme court decided that the 30-year-old brown will be eligible for release after her 69th birthday. As reported in the media, it may prevent the team of lawyers working on her case, to overturn the verdict.
