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Cyntoia Brown Will Be Released From Prison This Year After Being Granted Clemency

Cyntoia Brown Will Be Released From Prison This Year After Being Granted Clemency

She was sentenced to life in prison back in 2004

Rachael Grealish

Rachael Grealish

It's been announced that clemency has been granted to Cyntonia Brown by Tennessee Governor Bill Haslam, according to reports in the Tennessean - following this, she will be released from prison later this year, on 7 August.

PA

Cyntonia is an alleged childhood sex trafficking victim and is currently in prison, serving a life-sentence for the murder of a man who solicited sex from her when she was only 16 years old.

In a statement, the governor said: "This decision comes after careful consideration of what is a tragic and complex case. Cyntoia Brown committed, by her own admission, a horrific crime at the age of 16.

"Yet, imposing a life sentence on a juvenile that would require her to serve at least 51 years before even being eligible for parole consideration is too harsh, especially in light of the extraordinary steps Ms. Brown has taken to rebuild her life.

"Transformation should be accompanied by hope. So, I am commuting Ms. Brown's sentence, subject to certain conditions."

In a statement released by her lawyers, Cyntonio gave her thanks to the governor for an 'act of mercy in giving me a second chance'. She continued: "I will do everything I can to justify your faith in me."

Fox17

She was given a life sentence back in 2004 for shooting and killing 43-year-old Nashville estate agent Johnny Allen. Cyntoia claims to have killed Allen out of fear that he planned to kill her.

Her case drew in international and A-list attention and in 2017 Kim Kardashian's lawyer confirmed that she had been asked to assist the campaign to free Cyntoia.

The reality TV star has enlisted the help of Shawn Holley, a high-profile Hollywood lawyer who was on the team that defended OJ Simpson when he was famously tried and acquitted of murder in 1995.

At the time, Karadashian was just one of several celebrities who expressed their support for Cyntoia, with Rihanna, Cara Delevingne, LeBron James and Snoop Dogg also sharing posts calling for her release back in 2017.

Featured Image Credit: Fox 17 / PA

Topics: US News