marissa

A Florida woman who was sentenced to 20 years in prison for firing a warning shot over the head of her abusive husband will receive a bail hearing next Friday.

Marissa Alexander was convicted in 2010 on three counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.

Her case has been thrust into the spotlight due to the controversial Stand Your Ground law that she was denied.

From Florida Times-Union:

On Thursday Circuit Judge James Daniel set a hearing for Friday, Nov. 8 at 2 p.m. to decide whether Alexander will get bail. Prosecutors have previously said Alexander should stay in jail until the trial occurs. Daniel also said Alexander’s trial will start on March 31. Alexander has maintained her innocence, saying she fired a warning shot when confronted by her attacking, threatening husband, Rico Gray. Gray was not hurt, but prosecutors said Alexander’s actions also endangered two of her stepchildren.

Read more at Florida Times-Union

The bail hearing comes after an appeals court ruling that instructions given to the jury “constituted a fundamental error and required Alexander to prove self-defense beyond a reasonable doubt.”

Alexander said her husband accused her of cheating and questioned whether he was the father or her one-week-old child. She told him to leave, locking herself in the bathroom. He broke through the door and shoved her to the floor. Alexander then ran to the garage in an attempt to escape but could not. She grabbed a gun from the glove compartment in hopes of scaring Gray away with a warning shot.

Her Stand Your Ground claim was rejected because Alexander returned to the house after fleeing to the garage.

Thoughts on the case?

Should Marissa Alexander be allowed freedom on bail until her trial starts?

Sound off below!