Reducción de pena para víctimas abusadas que asesinan a su abusador

Explicación Simple

Si alguien fue abusado y luego mató a su abusador, puede pedir que revisen su sentencia. Esto sucede si el asesinato ocurrió antes de 1989 y hubo abuso continuado.

Es como si alguien estuviera en una pelea constante con un bully en la escuela, y un día, al cansarse, responde de manera extrema. La ley les da una oportunidad de explicar por qué actuaron así.

Ejemplo Práctico

Imagina a Laura, que fue víctima de abuso físico por parte de su pareja durante años. Cansada de vivir con miedo, un día lo mata en un ataque de defensa. Ahora, Laura quiere que revisen su pena porque el abuso nunca fue tomado en cuenta en su juicio.

Texto Original del Estatuto (Inglés)

RCW 9.95.045 - Abused victim--Reduction in sentence for murder of abuser--Petition for review (1) An inmate convicted of murder may petition the indeterminate sentence review board to review the inmate's sentence if the petition alleges the following:(a) The inmate was sentenced for a murder committed prior to July 23, 1989, which was the effective date of section 1, chapter 408, Laws of 1989, as codified in RCW 9.94A.535(1)(h). RCW 9.94A.535(1)(h) provides that the sentencing court may consider as a mitigating factor evidence that the defendant or the defendant's children suffered a continuing pattern of physical or sexual abuse by the victim of the offense and the offense was a response to that abuse;(b) RCW 9.94A.535(1)(h), if effective when the defendant committed the crime, would have provided a basis for the defendant to seek a mitigated sentence; and(c) The sentencing court when determining what sentence to impose, did not consider evidence that the victim subjected the defendant or the defendant's children to a continuing pattern of sexual or physical abuse and the murder was in response to that abuse.(2) An inmate who seeks to have his or her sentence reviewed under this section must petition the board for review no later than October 1, 1993. The petition may be by letter requesting review.(3)(a) If the inmate was convicted of a murder committed prior to July 1, 1984, and the inmate is under the jurisdiction of the indeterminate sentence review board, the board shall conduct the review as provided in RCW 9.95.047. If the inmate was sentenced pursuant to chapter 9.94A RCW for a murder committed after June 30, 1984, but before July 23, 1989, the board shall conduct the review and may make appropriate recommendations to the sentencing court as provided