Why woman who killed her sex trafficker has been released after 15 years in prison

A sex-trafficking victim who was sentenced to life in prison for a murder committed when she was 16, was granted clemency on Monday, bringing a high-profile, controversial case to an end.

Cyntoia Brown, a US citizen attracted global attention for a number of reasons. 

A teenage Brown was arrested in 2004 and convicted in 2006 for shooting and killing a man who paid her for sex.

Brown killed Johnny Mitchell Allen in 2004 who Brown said had solicited her for sex and taken her back to his house.

Prosecutors at the time said Brown shot Allen in the head while he was sleeping, stole money and guns, took his truck, and fled the scene.

They argued the killing wasn't motivated by self-defense, but robbery.

Brown said she was scared for her life by Allen's behavior, and took money for fear of returning empty-handed to her pimp, nicknamed "Cut Throat."

A Tennessee court convicted Brown of first-degree murder and aggravated robbery, and she was sentenced to life in prison. 

WHY BROWN WAS GRANTED CLEMENCY: 

Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam granted clemency Monday to Cyntoia Brown, who had been serving a life sentence but who will be released on parole.

"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," Haslam said in his statement.

Brown will remain on parole supervision for 10 years on the condition she does not violate any state or federal laws, holds a job, and participates in regular counseling sessions. She is now 30 years old.

Her case began attracting increased attention after the release of a documentary on her life in 2011, which mentioned that Brown had been sexually abused from a young age and was forced into prostitution.

In the years since that film, Brown’s story has been held up by activists as an example of the American justice system’s overly punitive treatment of juveniles, particularly juveniles of color.

Cyntoia Brown, who had been serving a life sentence will be released on parole on Aug. 7.