DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) - A lawyer for a Des Moines woman charged in the death of her stepfather says she considered him a threat when she shot him in her basement.
The Des Moines Register reports a lawyer for 29-year-old Sera Alexander argued Monday in the opening day of her trial that year of domestic abuse prompted her to consider 49-year-old Anthony Hartmann a threat.
After finding her stepfather in her basement, she warned she’d shoot if he didn’t leave.
Defense lawyer F. Montgomery Brown says he responded “Fine, shoot me,” and she did.
Alexander has pleaded not guilty to second-degree murder.
A judge refused to let Alexander use Iowa’s new “stand your ground” defense against the charge, noting the law took effect nearly two months after Hartmann was shot in May 2017.
The law says people don’t have to retreat before using deadly force if they think their life is being threatened.
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Information from: The Des Moines Register, http://www.desmoinesregister.com
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