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A Florida woman, Sarah Boone, has been sentenced to life in prison for killing her boyfriend. She zipped 42-year-old Jorge Torres into a suitcase and left him to suffocate.
Boone’s sentence was imposed by Circuit Judge Michael Kraynick after a 10-day trial. A jury deliberated for only 90 minutes before convicting her of second-degree murder.
During the trial, Boone claimed she was a victim of domestic violence and that she acted in self-defense. She rejected a plea offer of 15 years in prison.
Torres’ family members expressed their grief and anger at the hearing. They said Boone’s actions had torn their family apart.
Boone apologized for her actions but also expressed remorse for the abuse she says she suffered at the hands of Torres.
Investigators found videos on Boone’s phone that recorded Torres yelling from inside the suitcase, saying he couldn’t breathe. Prosecutors believe Boone kept him in the suitcase to terrorize him.
Boone’s trial brought to light the complex nature of domestic violence and the difficulty of proving self-defense.