Cyntoia Brown's Appeal Denied

 

Despite overwhelming public support and over a half of million signatures on multiple petitions and support from celebrities like LeBron James, Kim Kardashian and Rihanna, Cyntoia Brown appeal was denied by the state of Tennessee. 

While it’s unconstitutional to imprison someone for killing in defense of human rights, the state of Tennessee holds that there’s another reason for Brown’s life sentence. Prosecutors said that Brown killed this man in order to steal from him.

Prosecutors say Brown killed Johnny Allen, 43, in order to steal from him — she took several firearms and his pants, which contained his wallet. They also pointed to her past drug use and criminal juvenile record in an attempt to show a pattern in her life. 

Allen was found dead in a pool of blood in his bed. Authorities say he was face down and had his hands under his head, as though he was sleeping when he was shot in the back of the head, court documents show. 

Brown told Nashville police officers Allen picked her up at a Sonic Drive-In and took her back to his home and they got into his bed. He started touching her under the covers and Brown told police she thought he was reaching for a gun, so she pulled out a .40-caliber handgun from her purse and shot him in the head, court documents show. 

Initially, she denied she was a prostitute and that they'd had sex. 

Authorities say Brown then took money out of Allen's wallet, took two of his guns then stolen his pickup truck and drove to a Walmart parking lot. She had someone else pick her up but was later arrested. 

Brown never denied killing Allen, but claimed she did it in self-defense. She was tried as an adult. 

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It was ruled last year that Cyntoia wouldn't be eligible for parole until 69, she's currently 29-years-old.  She was convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to life in 2004.

Experts who testified in Brown's sentencing hearing noted she may have suffered from fetal alcohol syndrome disorder in utero, impairing her mental abilities.

"This was a seriously mentally impaired girl, subject to the immaturity and impulsiveness of all juveniles but to a much greater degree, who had been abandoned by her parents and whose only refuge was a pimp who sexually and physically abused her," Brown's lawyers' appeal said.