Elena

At the time, the domestic violence aspect of the case, which was known as battered wife syndrome, was relatively new and pretty novel. But it turned out they wouldn't get a chance to try it because the judge ordered that self-defense cannot be argued if it's a contract murder. Mm, yeah.

At the time, the domestic violence aspect of the case, which was known as battered wife syndrome, was relatively new and pretty novel. But it turned out they wouldn't get a chance to try it because the judge ordered that self-defense cannot be argued if it's a contract murder. Mm, yeah.

The case was further disrupted a few days later when a mistrial was declared because there was issues with the jury, and the prosecution moved for a retrial.

The case was further disrupted a few days later when a mistrial was declared because there was issues with the jury, and the prosecution moved for a retrial.

It turned out that they wouldn't end up... They would end up waiting for, like, over a year for their trial to start, and that's when they were all being tried for first-degree murder and conspiracy to commit murder, which could carry the death penalty. Yeah. But the prosecution didn't have any interest in pursuing that. Okay. Under the circumstances, Chris Wyant had...

It turned out that they wouldn't end up... They would end up waiting for, like, over a year for their trial to start, and that's when they were all being tried for first-degree murder and conspiracy to commit murder, which could carry the death penalty. Yeah. But the prosecution didn't have any interest in pursuing that. Okay. Under the circumstances, Chris Wyant had...

Pretty limited defense since he had been identified by his two co-defendants. In late January 1994, he was found guilty of second degree and guilty of conspiracy to commit first degree murder. And he was sentenced to 27 years in prison for each charge. Fuck. But it was going to be served concurrently.

Pretty limited defense since he had been identified by his two co-defendants. In late January 1994, he was found guilty of second degree and guilty of conspiracy to commit first degree murder. And he was sentenced to 27 years in prison for each charge. Fuck. But it was going to be served concurrently.

He was released from prison in 2009 after serving a minimum of 15 years and he has lived out of the spotlight. Okay. Out he goes. Having been ordered for a new trial, though, Teresa once again offered a self-defense argument. Her attorney, Arnold Levine, told the jury she honestly believed she had no other alternative but to participate in this terrible act.

He was released from prison in 2009 after serving a minimum of 15 years and he has lived out of the spotlight. Okay. Out he goes. Having been ordered for a new trial, though, Teresa once again offered a self-defense argument. Her attorney, Arnold Levine, told the jury she honestly believed she had no other alternative but to participate in this terrible act.

In response to her defense, the judge ruled that the self-defense argument could be allowed, but only if Teresa was willing to admit the role she played in hiring her husband's killer, which she did. The stipulation struck a lot of people in the legal community as weird and unusual. Law professor Stephen Goldstein told a reporter, I don't understand why she has to testify to it.

In response to her defense, the judge ruled that the self-defense argument could be allowed, but only if Teresa was willing to admit the role she played in hiring her husband's killer, which she did. The stipulation struck a lot of people in the legal community as weird and unusual. Law professor Stephen Goldstein told a reporter, I don't understand why she has to testify to it.

Saying that whether she testifies to her role or not, it wouldn't change the outcome. Right. I don't really understand that either. Why are we making her say she has this much of a role in it?

Saying that whether she testifies to her role or not, it wouldn't change the outcome. Right. I don't really understand that either. Why are we making her say she has this much of a role in it?

Yeah, she was just told after the fact. She didn't do anything to stop it. Right, but I mean, she didn't go out and hire someone. Are we really making her testify to that?

Yeah, she was just told after the fact. She didn't do anything to stop it. Right, but I mean, she didn't go out and hire someone. Are we really making her testify to that?

But regardless of whether it was an appropriate stipulation, she did confess her role and offered the domestic abuse stories as her motive, all of which were backed up by testimony from her children and others who'd known her over the years. All of them knew how he was with her.

But regardless of whether it was an appropriate stipulation, she did confess her role and offered the domestic abuse stories as her motive, all of which were backed up by testimony from her children and others who'd known her over the years. All of them knew how he was with her.

I was going to say, I mean, hello. In the end, her defense was moderately successful. Although the jury did find her guilty, they all agreed the circumstances warranted a lesser charge, and she was convicted of manslaughter and conspiracy to commit first-degree murder. It was the first time in Florida's history that a jury was allowed to consider self-defense in a case of contract murder. Wow.

I was going to say, I mean, hello. In the end, her defense was moderately successful. Although the jury did find her guilty, they all agreed the circumstances warranted a lesser charge, and she was convicted of manslaughter and conspiracy to commit first-degree murder. It was the first time in Florida's history that a jury was allowed to consider self-defense in a case of contract murder. Wow.