Jacksonville Woman, Claimed 'Stand Your Ground,' Gets 20 Years

A Jacksonville woman who failed to sway a jury that the warning shot she fired in an effort to scare off her husband should have fallen under Floridas Stand Your Ground law was sentenced to 20 years in prison Friday, the Florida Times-Union is reporting.

Marissa Alexander had tried to use the states self-defense law instead of accepting a three-year sentence from State Attorney Angela Corey.

Alexander had claimed in August 2010 her husband had tried to strangle her; she left the house but returned for her keys and was again threatened before firing a single shot into a wall in their home.

Florida Lt. Gov. Jennifer Carroll referred toAlexanders case on May 1, at the start of the states Stand Your Ground Task Force meeting, as an example that the law was being used in more than just the Feb. 26 Trayvon Martin shooting in Sanford.

Corey is also prosecuting neighborhood watchman George Zimmerman, who has claimed he acted in self-defense in the Martin shooting.