Cyntoia Brown Has Been Released From Prison, More Than A Decade After Being Jailed

Cyntoia Brown has been released from prison, 15 years after she was sentenced to life behind bars for killing a man.

According to the Tennessee Department of Corrections, the 31-year-old was released this morning after being granted clemency by the former Governor of Tennessee Bill Haslam in January.

Ms Brown was originally handed a life sentence for killing the man who had previously bought her for sex as a young teenager.

Prosecutors argued at the time that Brown shot Johnny Mitchell Allen, while he slept before stealing his wallet. Brown, however, testified that she shot Mitchell Allen in self defence as she thought he was reaching for a gun.

She said she took his wallet so as not to return empty-handed to her pimp and alleged sex trafficker, who went by the name 'Kut-Throat'.

After spending more than a decade behind bars, she has now been released under parole supervision after spending more than a decade jailed.

PA

Since she was given a life sentence, a host of celebrities have supported her case to be released from prison, inspiring the viral hashtag #FreeCyntoiaBrown.

Back in 2017, popstar Rihanna shared a picture of Ms Brown on her Instagram page, urging people to take action and free her.

Her post read: "Imagine at the age of 16 being sex-trafficked by a pimp named 'cut-throat'. After days of being repeatedly drugged and raped by different men you were purchased by a 43-year-old child predator who took you to his home to use you for sex.

"You end up finding enough courage to fight back and shoot and kill him. Your [sic] arrested as [sic] result tried and convicted as an adult and sentenced to life in prison. This is the story of Cyntoia Brown. She will be eligible for parole when she is 69 years old."

Another of Ms Brown's supporters, Kardashian West, praised the decision to release the young woman.

Sharing an article announcing the story, the reality TV star wrote: "Thank you Governor Haslam."

Ms Brown was sentenced to life in prison in 2004 for the killing of the 43-year-old man.

She was tried as an adult and convicted of first-degree murder, as well as first degree felony murder and aggravated robbery.

According to reports, her sentence required her to serve at least 51 years in prison before she was eligible for parole.

Topics: Interesting, US News, crime

Dominic Smithers

Dominic graduated from the University of Leeds with a degree in French and History. Like you, Dom has often questioned how much use a second language has been. Well, after stints working at the Manchester Evening News, the Accrington Observer and the Macclesfield Express, along with never setting foot in France, he realised the answer is surprisingly little. But I guess, c'est la vie. Contact us at [email protected]

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