California: Probation and community work sentence for a woman who fatally wounded a man she was dating with a knife
Bryn Spejcher gets probation for fatally stabbing man 108 times. Women avoided jail time after being convicted of manslaughter for the death of her boyfriend, 26-year-old Chad O'Melia, in 2018.
Jan 26, 2024 | updated: 7:09 AM EST, February 1, 2024
Tragic end of the evening
The incident occurred in the evening, when the couple was smoking marijuana. According to defense attorneys and the prosecution, the woman was said to have slipped into a psychotic state. A woman was also alleged to have repeatedly stabbed herself with a knife. She has been charged with unintentional manslaughter.
Why woman didn't go to jail? - From that point forward, she had no control over her actions - explained judge in his final statement. The woman was sentenced to a two-year suspended prison and 100 hours of community service.
Reaction to the verdict
Audry Nafziger, who handled the case as a prosecutor, criticized the court's ruling - It sets a very dangerous precedent. It’s also a slap in the face to the victim’s family and speaks poorly to victims relief everywhere that ... it’s OK to smoke marijuana and butcher someone with three knives. But it’s not OK to smoke marijuana and drive and kill someone. That will send you to jail. ... It doesn’t square - argued the prosecutor.
Spejcher's attorney, Michael Goldstein, agreed with the verdict, calling it fair and an accurate reflection of behavior that he said was beyond his client's control - reported in the L.A. Times.
According to Ventura Country Star, during the trial, the woman expressed remorse for what she had done - My actions have ripped your family apart (... ) I am broken and aching inside. I hurt that you never see Chad again - she said.
Source: NBC News