A Florida woman awaiting a new trial in a “stand your ground case” was released from jail on $200,009 bail Wednesday night.
Marissa Alexander was sentenced to 20 years in prison last year for firing a “warning shot” at a wall during a fight with her allegedly abusive husband. Alexander claimed self-defense under Florida’s “stand your ground” law, but the judge threw out her claim, according to the Associated Press.
An appeals court in September ordered a retrial because the trial judge failed to give the jury proper instructions. Alexander will be under house arrest until the new trial on March 31, 2014, according to USA Today.
Supporters of Alexander were optimistic about the news of her release.
“We hope the decision means that the Florida justice system has relented in its vindictive, hostile and racist legal assault on this African American mother of three,” a statement by the Free Marissa Now Mobilization Campaign said, according to NBC News.
However, “the battle’s not over yet,” said Anthony Heard of Free Marissa Now, according to CNN. "The battle will be won in court. We're all just happy that she'll be home for Thanksgiving and Christmas, and we're going to focus on that right now."
Alexander’s case received national attention after the trial of George Zimmerman, who was arrested for the fatal shooting of Trayvon Martin in 2012. Zimmerman claimed self-defense and was acquitted in July.