92, Deena Williams shot and killed the man she had been living with for some time. Williams was found guilty of voluntary manslaughter and a firearm specification. She was sentenced to serve five to 25 years for voluntary manslaughter and three years for the firearm specification. The issues appealed by the defendant deal with the evidence of the testimony given and the retreat doctrine rule that pertains to self-defense. The 8th district Ohio Appellate Court reviewed the case (State v. Williams, 1). At the trial, the Cuyahoga Coroner Dr. Heather Raaf testified that the deceased, Emillios Andre Green, died from a gunshot wound to the mouth and had traces of marijuana in his blood and urine. The appellant's brother testified that his sister and the deceased were involved in a relationship, and that the relationship was violent. He testified that he had witnessed the deceased slap, punch, and kicked his sister on numerous occasions. Appellant testified that her mother was sent to prison when she was eleven and that she was sexually abused as a child. Appellant further testified that she had been involved a previous abusive relationship that almost ended in her death. Psychologist Dr. Cynthia Carter testified that the appellant was a battered woman and that the deceased would not be afraid of the appellant if she had a weapon. Dr. Carter further testified that the appellant had just received the worst beating ever from the deceased and that she would not have used the gun unless absolutely necessary (2-5). The appellant argued that the guilty verdict of voluntary manslaughter was against the weight of the evidence when the defense proved self-defense by a preponderance of the evidence. The appellate court did not agree with the appellant's assignment of error. However, the appellate court stated that the jury might have come to a different conclusion if instructed on the retreat doctrine pertaining to self-defense. The judgem...
