Marissa Alexander and Rico Gray probably aren't great people...

[Gravitycollapse]

Which illuminates the complexity of these types of cases. Both have been convicted of domestic battery in separate incidents. Both appear to be violent individuals.

The incident in question involved illegal acts by both parties. First Gray prevented Alexander from leaving the residence. But he eventually let her through and she had an opportunity to walk out both the front and back door and out the garage. Instead of fleeing the scene, she walked into the garage to retrieve a gun and then walked back into the house to the room where Gray and their children were located. Take note that the children were in the same room when this happened.

Let's remember that at this point in the altercation nothing was stopping Alexander from simply walking out of the house. In fact, she made the conscious decision to go retrieve a weapon and return. Which is why the court rejected her attempted dismissal on the "stand your ground" law.

(Gray) moved to the living room where his children were. Subsequently, the defendant emerged from the master bedroom and went into the garage where her car was parked. The defendant testified she was trying to leave the residence but could not get the garage door to open. (The Court notes that despite the defendant's claim she was in fear for her life at that point and trying to get away from (Gray), she did not leave the house through the back or front doors which were unobstructed. Additionally, the garage door had worked previously and there was no evidence to support her claim.) The defendant then retrieved her firearm from the glove box of the vehicle. The defendant returned to the kitchen with the firearm in her hand and pointed it in the direction of all three victims. (Gray) put his hands in the air. The defendant shot at (Gray), barely missing his head. The bullet traveled through the kitchen wall and into the ceiling in the living room. The victims fled the residence and immediately called 911. The defendant stayed in the marital home and at no point called 911.

http://www.scribd.com/doc/89763280/Order-Denying-Defendants-Motion-for-Immunity-and-Motion-to-Dismiss


This case is similar in at least one way to Zimmerman's. Both Zimmerman and Alexander were presented with circumstances that easily allowed them to diffuse the situation by walking away. Instead both chose to produce firearms and shoot at the victim. In one case the victim was killed and in the other the victim survived. In an endless other number of ways the cases are totally unrelated. But in the most crucial way it demonstrates two individuals who used "lethal force" against an individual who did not present an imminent threat.


Now, we could talk about how Alexander might have simply reached a breaking point after enduring so much abuse. However, it appears that she is also a person with a penchant for domestic violence.