She purchased the gun far in advance of the murders which shows premeditation. She also told many people that she was going to murder Dan, which further indicates premeditation. This was clearly a crime of premeditation and not a crime in the the heat of the moment. Can someone explain to me why she was convicted of second-degree murder and not first degree murder?
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She pulled out the husband emotionally abused me card. All women have to do is say they were abused and some morons on the jury will take pity on them.
Religion is regarded by the common people as true, by the wise as false, and by rulers as useful.
Yes, she played the abuse card successfully in the first trial but Kerry Wells tripped her up during cross in the second trial - she got Betty all wound up in her truth and her lies to the point where Betty didn't know what she was saying.
Murder One would have shown complete premeditation; Murder Two is almost premeditated - the intent may have been there, but the act was more spontaneous.
I don't think though that the abuse card has as much weight today; and also, many husbands are just as much victims of abuse as women are.
"...truth against the world..." - attributed to Boudicca of the Iceni