Trending 8th January 2019 by Cara Croke

How Kim Kardashian And Rihanna Helped To Free This Woman From Life In Prison

Cyntoia Brown served 13 years for killing a man who solicited her for sex as a teen.

An American woman will be released from prison after serving 13 years for murdering a man who solicited her for sex when she was a teenager.

In 2004, Cyntoia Brown shot Johnny Mitchell Allen after he brought her back to his house for sex, stealing money and fleeing in his truck. She was tried as an adult and prosecuted for murder and aggravated robbery, though she said she acted in self defence and only took the money because she feared returning to her pimp empty-handed.

Her case became well-known after celebrities like Kim Kardashian and Rihanna helped reignite interest online in 2017, setting off a social media campaign to free Cyntoia.

In a statement on Monday, the governor of Tennessee said that the now 30-year-old Cyntoia will be released on supervised parole on August 7, after serving 13 years of her sentence.

Cyntoia Brown committed, by her own admission, a horrific crime at the age of 16. Yet imposing a life sentence on a juvenile that would require her to serve at least 51 years before even being eligible for parole consideration is too harsh, especially in light of the extraordinary steps Ms Brown has taken to rebuild her life. Transformation should be accompanied by hope.

Celebrities are taking to Twitter to celebrate the news:

https://www.instagram.com/p/BsWRHatBiYJ/

https://www.instagram.com/p/BsV8XX7HXAX/

“Thank you, Governor Haslam, for your act of mercy in giving me a second chance. I will do everything I can to justify your faith in me,” Cyntoia said in part of a statement.

She concluded: “With God’s help, I am committed to live the rest of my life helping others, especially young people. My hope is to help other young girls avoid ending up where I have been.”

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