Kenosha---The judge Friday in the Donna Matthews case handed down the harshest sentence possible: Life in prison without the possibility of parole.
The 52 year-old Matthews is the woman with local roots who traveled from Hawaii back to Kenosha to kill her ex-boyfriend, Michael Gayan, on Independence Day, 2016.
Matthews’ attorneys claimed that she was the victim of a form of battered woman syndrome because she was the subject of a pattern of verbal threats, stalking and online harassment from Gayan, some of which included the posting of nude photos and embarrassing text messages.
Although Matthews said she feared for her life, it took a jury no more than two hours earlier this summer to convict her of 1st Degree Intentional Homicide. The conviction carried a mandatory term of life in prison, leaving Judge Jodi Meier with the sole task of deciding if and when Matthews should be declared eligible for parole.
Meier opted to withhold the possibility of release, calling Matthews a "dangerous" individual because hatred--not fear--governed her actions the night she snuck into Gayan's lakefront home and killed him. "It was telling that just prior to pulling that trigger you took multiple seconds to pause and call him a profane name," Meier said. "To this court, that is not fear. That is pure hatred."
Minutes before the true life sentence was imposed, Matthews tearfully told the judge: "I don't want to die in prison.I'm not now or have I ever been a threat to society. I was scared, alone and I believed in my mind and my heart that I had extinguished all of my options and I had no other choice. I begged and pleaded for help from so many."
The record includes two restraining orders, numerous online exchanges between police and caches of text messages and photos that Gayan had posted.
During the sentencing hearing, prosecutor Angelina Gabriele, in pushing for the max, accused Matthews of lying, and of thinking of herself as the hero in her own Lifetime movie for killing Gayan. She also pointed out conflicting statements that came out during the 11 day-long trial that raised questions about Matthews' credibility and motivations. One of Matthews' attorneys, Pat Cafferty, conceded during his comments to the judge that his client wasn't entirely blameless.
As she was being led away, Matthews looked at members of the Gayan family who were in the gallery and said, "You know he’s an animal…you know he’s a freak.”
Matthews attorneys are expected to appeal, arguing that Meier should've given them greater latitude in presenting evidence.
Other than the murder conviction, Matthews' record is clear. She's an Army veteran and has worked as a bartender, server and real estate agent.
Matthews' brother Derrick, the source of the murder weapon, is expected to be sentenced for his role in two weeks. Derrick Matthews struck a plea bargain, with the prosecutor agreeing to recommend no more than seven years in prison.
Complete audio of the sentencing is included below.
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