Ms. Brown was tried as an adult in 2006, and a jury rejected her claim of self-defense, finding her guilty of first-degree murder and aggravated robbery. She was given a life sentence, and is currently in the Tennessee Prison for Women in Nashville. State Representative Jeremy Faison, a Republican from Nashville, visited Ms. Brown in 2015 on a friend’s recommendation, and has since been pushing for her early release. Bone has argued that Ms. Brown deserves a new trial because she received ineffective counsel by a public defender. He also argues that her life sentence is unconstitutional under the Eighth Amendment, which prohibits cruel and unusual punishment.

Source: New York Times November 22, 2017 20:24 UTC