TFred
Regular Member
I've been trying to make sense out of this story since it first hit the news here a few months ago.
Two major points... I hope something very significant is missing from the news coverage here because I do not understand why this woman was charged and tried for voluntary manslaughter. For goodness sake, the deceased husband's own mother testified that she was afraid he might try something like this!
If there is no other significant factor, then I am very disappointed that the Spotsylvania Commonwealth's Attorney chose to persecute this woman. The only thing they seem to base their entire case on is the fallacious opinion that six shots is "too many".
Here are the series of news articles, you can read for yourselves and see if you can come up with anything I missed:
6/18/2010 - Spotsy woman charged with murdering her husband
6/18/2010 - Spotsy woman charged in husband's slaying
6/19/2010 - Woman held in spouse's slaying
9/26/2010 - SPOTSYLVANIA COUNTY GRAND JURY INDICTMENTS
1/20/2011 - Prosecution rests in shooting case
1/21/2011 - Woman acquitted in husband's death
TFred
Two major points... I hope something very significant is missing from the news coverage here because I do not understand why this woman was charged and tried for voluntary manslaughter. For goodness sake, the deceased husband's own mother testified that she was afraid he might try something like this!
If there is no other significant factor, then I am very disappointed that the Spotsylvania Commonwealth's Attorney chose to persecute this woman. The only thing they seem to base their entire case on is the fallacious opinion that six shots is "too many".
Here are the series of news articles, you can read for yourselves and see if you can come up with anything I missed:
6/18/2010 - Spotsy woman charged with murdering her husband
6/18/2010 - Spotsy woman charged in husband's slaying
6/19/2010 - Woman held in spouse's slaying
9/26/2010 - SPOTSYLVANIA COUNTY GRAND JURY INDICTMENTS
1/20/2011 - Prosecution rests in shooting case
"Prosecutors acknowledged that the evidence supported much of Janay Majors’ story, but contended that she did not need to fire so many shots." [Are you kidding me? --TFred]
1/21/2011 - UPDATE: Wife acquitted in husband's death1/21/2011 - Woman acquitted in husband's death
"In a statement to police, Janay Majors said her husband was irate and threatening to kill her. She locked herself in a bathroom and began firing when he tried to come in after her."
"During the trial, Brian Majors was described as a man who frequently lost his temper over relatively minor things. Among the witnesses testifying for the defense was the victim’s mother."
1/22/2011 - JURY ACQUITS WIDOW"During the trial, Brian Majors was described as a man who frequently lost his temper over relatively minor things. Among the witnesses testifying for the defense was the victim’s mother."
"Janay Majors was found not guilty of three charges--voluntary manslaughter, reckless handling of a firearm and discharging a firearm in an occupied building--following a two-day trial in Spotsylvania Circuit Court.
Among the defense witnesses called yesterday was Barbara Majors, the victim's mother.
She testified that she had been concerned about her son's temper for some time and had urged him to get help for it.
She said she was "afraid something like this" would happen if he didn't."
This is crazy. Is Spotsylvania County now a sanctuary for angry wife abusers?Among the defense witnesses called yesterday was Barbara Majors, the victim's mother.
She testified that she had been concerned about her son's temper for some time and had urged him to get help for it.
She said she was "afraid something like this" would happen if he didn't."
TFred
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