I have only seen this program three times and, oddly enough, I've seen this particular episode two of those three times. Now, I understand that we only get the inmate's version of the events but ~ considering portions of Valencia's story would clearly be corroborated by police ~ I have a very difficult time accepting Valencia's conviction, particularly for "VOLUNTARY manslaughter".
This piece of garbage she killed (I refuse to call him a 'victim'), was dealing drugs out of HER home (with total disregard for the fact that she worked as a security guard), and physically beat her to the point where she called police who came to her home and removed the jerk, telling Valencia to just let him take whatever items he wanted (whether or not they belonged to him) so he would have no reason to try to return to the premises. Then (months later, I believe), she came home to find him in her home and he again attacked her, this time wielding a knife. When he came after her, she grabbed a knife from her kitchen to defend herself herself, and after stabbing him once, ran from the house and called for help. The jerk ended up dying at the hospital and Valencia ended up with a 30-year sentence?!
Now. If the police have a record of removing this trash from her home, seeing first-hand that she had been physically beaten, and now he's back at her home ~ with a knife ~ why on Earth was she convicted of "VOLUNTARY manslaughter" instead of self defense or, at the very least, INVOLUNTARY manslaughter.
Again, I understand we're only getting Valencia's version but I would love to know what went on in her trial that would result in the conviction and sentence she received.
This piece of garbage she killed (I refuse to call him a 'victim'), was dealing drugs out of HER home (with total disregard for the fact that she worked as a security guard), and physically beat her to the point where she called police who came to her home and removed the jerk, telling Valencia to just let him take whatever items he wanted (whether or not they belonged to him) so he would have no reason to try to return to the premises. Then (months later, I believe), she came home to find him in her home and he again attacked her, this time wielding a knife. When he came after her, she grabbed a knife from her kitchen to defend herself herself, and after stabbing him once, ran from the house and called for help. The jerk ended up dying at the hospital and Valencia ended up with a 30-year sentence?!
Now. If the police have a record of removing this trash from her home, seeing first-hand that she had been physically beaten, and now he's back at her home ~ with a knife ~ why on Earth was she convicted of "VOLUNTARY manslaughter" instead of self defense or, at the very least, INVOLUNTARY manslaughter.
Again, I understand we're only getting Valencia's version but I would love to know what went on in her trial that would result in the conviction and sentence she received.